Region 10’s Regional Chairman, Deron Adams said the district continues to suffer at the hands of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration as he pointed to the bulldozing of several houses, the firing of workers, and the stymieing of critical agricultural, economical and infrastructural projects within the region.
“While the rest of Guyana may not be familiar with the divisive and vile tactics that the PPP has employed to ensure that they punish the people of Region #10 and Linden for simply exercising their franchise to elect the people that they are certain can bring the type of development and quality of life that we desperately need…” Adams said during the PNCR’s weekly press conference on Tuesday.
Speaking in the presence of Region 10 Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira and APNU+AFC MP Ganesh Mahipaul among others.
Last week, the Government, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) demolished a number of houses and structures in Phase 4 Amelia’s Ward, Linden where residents were reportedly squatting. CH&PA said while the demolition was “unfortunate,” it was necessary as the area was earmarked for a new thoroughfare.
Adams, in condemning the move, said the demolition exercise left a mother and her children homeless for Mother’s Day.
“Councilors, businesspeople and many other Lindeners came together in an effort of solidarity and support and rebuilt the home of a mother who was forced to spend Mother’s Day without a roof over her head, simply because this PPP government decided that they have the force, guns and equipment to force poor residents out of their homes by razing them to the ground with bulldozers. And yes, I said force and guns because the bulldozers were accompanied by members of the Guyana Police Force, to enforce a letter from the Central Housing and Planning Authority demanding that the residents remove by May 12th, 2022,” he said.
Notably, the demolition took place on May 5 and 6.
The Regional Chairman also pointed to the firing of a number of Lindeners from the Linden Hospital Complex.
“Since 2nd August 2022, when the PPP was installed in government, youths in Linden continue to be laid off from entities such as the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade, Patient Care Assistants, the National Data Management Unit and many other entities. The PPP is placing Lindeners on the breadline,” he pointed out.
Adams said while the Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has waved an offer of 800 temporary jobs, residents of Region 10 deserve permanent jobs.
“Our people do not have temporary needs. Children do not have a temporary need for food and shelter. Lindeners need a plan to create jobs. The PPP has no such plan,” he said.
Both Adams and the Regional MP also made a case for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Linden Hospital Complex Rudy Small to be removed immediately. It is Small’s stewardship that a number of medical and auxiliary staff were fired. Others have resigned due to poor conditions at the health facility.
“What is worse is that the Hospital “wild man” is allowed to use our taxes to build Trumpian walls in defiance of our building and safety codes, and refuses to fill vacancies so that our residents can find permanent work to sustain their families and receive better health care services. The PPP continues to impose this type of mismanagement and disrespect for workers in the health sector in Region #10,” Adams said.
The Regional Chairman also pointed to the lack of training and the stymieing of agriculture development in the region. He said to compound the situation, Central Government continues to bypass the regional leaders when making decisions that impact the lives and livelihood of the people of the district.
According to him, it was under the APNU+AFC Coalition that Region 10 experienced significant development.
“I speak here of the commencement of work on the Linden to Lethem road, upgrading the port facilities at lower Christianburg and at the Alumina Plant, the construction of a new bridge across the Demerara River at Linden, the resuscitation of the airstrip and attendant facilities at Linden, the rehabilitation of the Linden to Georgetown Highway, upgrade of the farm to market road from Millies’ Hideout to the Berbice River and the development of agricultural lands along that corridor…,” he pointed out.
