Former Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Thursday commissioned a spanking new $32 million sub-office for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Whim, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six).
The office marks the first sub-office for the agency and the first in a series of planned regional offices.
Harmon, in his remarks, said that the commissioning is a testament to the efforts the Government is making to ensure that every Guyanese has access to public services.
He noted that the commissioning comes on the heels of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission’s New Amsterdam sub-office, which was commissioned in March and a soon-to-be-opened Passport office in the region.
“The Passport office will be opened within another month or so and I want to say that Government services are being deployed in such a way that it is getting closer and closer to where people live and work.
Previously, any resident desirous of accessing the EPA’s services would have had to travel from the region to Sophia, Greater Georgetown.
Meanwhile, Head of the Board of Directors of the EPA Patrick Williams, in his remarks said that the opening of the office brings personal satisfaction as it has always been his wish for the agency to spread its reach.
Executive Director of the EPA, Dr Vincent Adams echoed these sentiments, noting that the office is the first step in reaching out to the Agency’s clientele while ensuring that there is greater efficiency in the services provided.
“We have authorised over 1,200 permits across the country and you can appreciate the challenges of us getting out there. We have to go out there and check and verify the operations, so this is a major step forward in reaching our customers. In addition to travelling and logistics being costly to us, it is also very inconvenient and costly for operators to get to us in Georgetown and so this is a major step.”
The Executive Director noted that all members of staff are drawn from the region and that the second such office will be opened in Linden next month. (Extracted and modified from the Ministry of the Presidency)
