President assures Govt. transforming neglected areas
--- opens $15M community center in W/R’vdt
by Nivedta Kowlessar
Guyana Chronicle
July 17, 2003
A $15M community centre was yesterday formally opened in West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, a section of the capital President Bharrat Jagdeo said was among areas unconsciously neglected.
“I’m very pleased that this project is being done here and…the City Council is also doing a lot of work…in the south of Georgetown,” he told a gathering witnessing the launching at the David Rose Centre.
“I’ve committed my Government to look importantly at those areas that are being neglected…we have to correct these issues,” he stated, reporting that all Ministries have been tasked with examining how to provide resources on a wide geographical spread.
The President said he has also insisted that south Georgetown gets access to a significant number of computer centres with Internet access to be provided under a programme the Government is negotiating with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
He noted that for too long, since colonial times, Government and businesses set up shop north of South Road, neglecting areas in the south of the city. The issue was discussed with the Georgetown City Council last year.
“I do not subscribe to the belief that nothing good could come out of this community Only people who are not schooled…and extremely blinkered could think…that there is no good person and bad person based on where you live. It’s based on your heart and the kind of guidance…and…training that you acquire,” he added.
Another important priority for the country is generating more jobs for young people, who must be taught the requisite skills for the new types of jobs in today’s world, the President said.
And he noted that the populace also needs “knowledge to defeat many of the negative things” that still harm the society, such as racism.
“…this has held us back as a country for a very long time and many people don’t want to talk about it. They think that the more we ignore these issues they would go away…”, he observed.
The President said solutions must be sought and citizens need to work aggressively at such issues and educate children that they are not Africans, Indians or Chinese but Guyanese.
“…we (need to) say to them that multi ethnic skills make us a people, better people,” he advised, urging that youths be taught tolerance and that it can only be accomplished through a systematic education.
This can be achieved through greater access to the Internet from which they can learn what is happening in other countries where sometimes millions of lives are lost over internal problems, he said.
The President added that only in sharing experiences, Guyanese would understand how fortunate they are in this country, a fact not often recognised.
Access to information will help people make informed decisions and is one reason why the Government is trying to spend more on education ($15Bln currently), the President said.
He called it an investment in the future of the country in an effort to develop well-rounded young people, as evidenced by the establishment of the new centre in West Ruimveldt.
The facility, which has 11 computers, a food and nutrition department, a carpentry/joinery workshop and a library, was built through the President’s Youth Choice Initiative.
It evolved from an abandoned building given to gambling, drugs and waste after the Guyana Council of Churches relocated there, Chairman, Bishop Juan Edghill reported.
Help is being sought for the provision of equipment for a basketball court and the resumption of a Health Ministry clinic.
Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, Mr. Robert Williams said the City Council has also been more active in the area and is pursuing an IDB project for road repairs.
Presidential Advisor, Mr. Odinga Lumumba, who oversees the Youth Choice Initiative, was among others officiating at the ceremony at which President Jagdeo clipped a red ribbon to officially open the centre’s doors.