Regional Chairman’s New Year’s Address

As the year 2020 comes to an end, I would like to extend my best wishes to all of our residents of Region 10 for a successful, productive and rewarding New Year.

It has indeed been a pleasure to serve you as Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council of Region 10, a local government organisation that allows me to indulge in my passion to seek development opportunities for people in my community.  I was very happy at the level of interaction that I received during my walking tours of the various communities across Linden and Region 10, and I especially enjoyed spending time and engaging with the people along the Berbice River and other far flung areas of Region 10.  

I vividly recall that one of my very first meetings, on the day of our first meeting as a Council, was with the residents of Moblissa, and I continue to encourage you all to remain engaged as we work together to realise the development we need for ourselves and our children.

Coming out of the hard work of our Councilors and the many visits we made to these communities, we have been able to present a work plan for inclusion in the 2021 budget to the Regional Administration. We have made these requests on your behalf hoping that the government will provide the resources we ask for to be able to provide those projects you put to us to assist to improve your lives.

Unfortunately, I am aware that the Regional Administration is required to present the Regional Democratic Council’s 2021 budget to the Ministry of Finance for consideration before the end of 2020.  Before the budget is presented to the Ministry, it is expected that the Council would be briefed on what are the submissions being made and the prioritization of these requests. However, the Council is at this time totally unaware of what is being submitted, since the usual presentation by each programme head on what are the requests being made under health, education, agriculture etc has not been done and so our Councilors are left in the dark as to what has been submitted or left out as the case may be.  I have written to the head of the Administration pointing out that this situation is not desirable and that the Council expects to be briefed on its budgetary submissions for 2021. 

We will continue to push to ensure that all of your requests you made to us in our various community visits are budgeted for, and will vigorously pursue the allocation of funds by the government to ensure that these projects are completed.

To the Administration staff who have welcomed us and worked tirelessly to ensure that this new Council could discharge its mandate, I say thank you and we look forward to working with you to improve all of our lives in 2021and beyond.  I would also like to say a sincere thank you to all of my fellow Councilors for their support and hard work on behalf of the people of Region 10.

In closing, I wish to extend on behalf of myself and family my very best wishes to all of the residents of Region 10 as I wish you a Happy New Year.  God Bless.