Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has raised concerns regarding the government’s recent Cabinet outreach to Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), describing it as a coordinated effort primarily aimed at political optics. He has challenged the government to demonstrate that this initiative will yield concrete structural benefits for residents in the region.
Mohamed, who leads the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, criticized the use of taxpayer funds for promotional activities while neglecting long-standing infrastructure issues. He emphasized that during his own visits to Cuyuni-Mazaruni, local stakeholders presented a comprehensive list of unresolved structural grievances that have persisted despite numerous government visits over the years.
He stated, “I noticed the administration sent its entire Cabinet to Region Seven for the normal show just for optics, not to fix ongoing problems affecting residents for years, even decades.” He specifically pointed out the lack of basic public safety infrastructure in riverain areas, highlighting the urgent need for a dedicated water ambulance to manage medical emergencies along the river channels.
Additionally, Mohamed criticized the government’s land administration and social service programs, noting disparities in resource management between local communities and external commercial operators. He mentioned that indigenous communities face significant challenges in securing legal access to their ancestral lands, while foreign entities receive large concessions with minimal administrative hurdles.
Furthermore, he addressed the shortcomings in social safety nets for senior citizens, indicating that the Ministry of Human Services has ceased sending mobile social officers to remote settlements for monthly fund distribution. Consequently, elderly pensioners must undertake lengthy and costly journeys to collect their payments.
Mohamed argued that these service deficits are unacceptable, especially in light of Guyana’s substantial oil-driven national budgets. He pointed out that while the country is recognized for its rapid economic growth, many interior villages remain without essential services, such as operational electrical infrastructure.
The opposition is calling for the government to prioritize genuine consultations and treat the issues in Region Seven as an urgent operational checklist, warning that future funding requests for interior development will be closely scrutinized by the 13th Parliament.
Source: hgptv.com
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