Manickchand pledges action to improve communities nationwide

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the needs of residents nationwide.

Speaking during a community engagement in Canal No. One Polder, West Bank Demerara, the minister said open community meetings are being conducted to ensure there are nationwide improvements.  She was accompanied by Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Vikash Ramkissoon and Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar.

The minister said continuous dialogue with citizens is a constitutional responsibility, stressing that policies and responses must be shaped by the concerns raised directly by communities.

“It’s very easy to list all the problems, that’s the easy part of governing, the hard part is finding solutions that are sustainable and meet your needs. That’s where we come in. We’re also very happy to hear when things work so that we know that we could replicate them in other communities,” Minister Manickchand said.

She said the meeting was one of many designed to hear both challenges and successes to allow for effective solutions. The engagement featured open discussions, with residents invited to share issues and contribute to finding practical, sustainable solutions.

Already, the Ministry has commenced engagements in Region Four with several communities at Central Georgetown undergoing massive redevelopment efforts.

Minister Manickchand also highlighted her role as both a Cabinet member and a Region Three parliamentary representative, assuring residents that their concerns will be addressed at the community level and raised in the National Assembly where necessary.

“We’re not only ministers in the cabinet, we are your geographical representatives. And would ordinarily have to take up your issues in the National Assembly,” the minister said.