Region 10 youth approves ministerial consultation

– issues for discussion in the 2021 budget debates

A broad cross-section of Upper Demerara-Berbice youth (Region 10) praised a Sunday community consultation led by the Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy and Minister for Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. .
Minister McCoy said that the Watooka Guest House meeting was designed to channel issues and concerns facing the region to the National Assembly.
“It comes just before the budget presentation. So the information they have been able to share with us – the discussions they have had with us – we can… find out, based on the considerations and priorities, many of them in the budget submissions, in the budget submission for 2021, ” y The Minister said.
Meanwhile, Minister Ramson Jr. reminded residents that the engagement was intended to help them establish sustainable communities and not to score political points.
The Minister said that “the election is over. You have a new Government. We must get on with the development business. “Many of the attendees welcomed the outreach.
Alliyah Dey of the Coomacka Mines community added, “I think it’s a really great opportunity for young people to really come out and instead of sitting down at home and doing nothing, they really have an opportunity to come out to greet with Ministers and share their ideas on what they think will be good for them while also helping with the development of their community. ”
Her daughter was accompanied by her cousin Deshawnna Dest, who described the consultation as “interactive” only and voiced her support for joint action.
Another teen, Akeila Handy, who lives in Linden, was optimistic that the engagement would bring about changes in her community.
“I think it’s a really good idea for them to come out and talk to the Linden people because there are many factors that hinder success in the community and now that our voices are heard, we feel ‘ n more comfortable and relaxed that we actually know something is going to happen. ”
For Mr Curt Murphy of Ituni, the meeting “is a good initiative by the Ministers … I think it has given everyone a chance to say exactly what they need.”
The meeting captured a range of issues, from infrastructure to social, and came on the heels of the opening outreach in the region led by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali two weeks ago.
Ministers were accompanied by other officials who facilitated discussions.