Opposition leaders in community outreach on East Coast Demerara

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Former Mayor Pt. Ubraj Narine and Members of Parliament (MP) Roysdale Forde S.C and Maureen Philadelphia teamed up for a community outreach in Beterverwagting (BV) on the East Coast Demerara.

In a release, the team said the purpose of their endeavour was to engage directly with residents, attentively listening to concerns and grievances surrounding various issues affecting their community and daily lives.

The Saturday outreach provided a unique opportunity for community members to voice their thoughts and experiences first hand and amplify their concerns and challenges.

Some of the problems highlighted were the absence of infrastructural development related to healthcare and public safety which the team proposed to raise at the various levels of government.

At the same time the residents were encouraged to mobilise themselves into groups and demand their fair share of participation and benefits from the oil and gas money.

Villagers were told there is a need for applying increasing pressure on the government to treat all fairly and end its discriminatory practices. The trio said Guyanese have to intensify pressure on the government.

The government stands accused of discriminating against administrative regions, towns, local government authorities and villages not controlled by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic. The situation has also attracted international attention.

Last September a “Washington Conference on Guyana” was held in the United States capital. The conference which was hosted by Guyanese organisations in the diaspora saw participation from Opposition members of parliament, local organisations, such as the Institute For Action Against Discrimination, and various individuals. Persons also met House Democratic Leader, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus where similar issues were raised.

Philadelphia is the MP for the East Coast Demerara area which includes BV, Forde is Shadow Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs and Narine is immediate past mayor of Georgetown.