Banking services will finally be available in Mahdia – President Ali

Residents of Mahdia, the mining town in the mountainous Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), have long asked for banking services, and on Friday night, President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced that commercial banks will soon set up ATMs there and offer other financial services.

The Guyanese Head of State said at least one commercial bank agreed to establish a “representative office” in the town. With this office, residents should be able to access banking services at least twice weekly.

Another bank, he said, will install ATMs in Mahdia and other surrounding communities.

Earlier Friday afternoon, several Mahdia residents told the News Room that there is a great need for banking services in the town.

Gloria Williams was one resident who said banking services are desperately needed in the region. She told the News Room that she hasn’t yet changed her $100,000 cash grant cheque because she needs to first leave the region and go to the coast to do so.

All Guyanese adults got a $100,000 cash grant from the government. The distribution started late last year and wrapped up earlier this year.

Another resident, Tiffiney Gordon, who works at a restaurant in Mahdia, also raised concerns about the lack of banking services. She said residents would spend about $15,000 travelling out of Mahdia to just to change cheques.

At the public meeting, President Ali directly addressed these concerns.

“We cannot be satisfied now with someone charging your cheque with 10% the value of the cheque, and you have to buy goods from their store. That must end,” the President said.

The Guyanese Head of State, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, and other members of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) addressed residents of Mahdia in a public meeting on Friday night.

Outside of the banking services, the President said crucial government services- from the issuance of drivers’ licenses and birth certificates- will be done in the town.