Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Hon. Priya Manickchand, on Friday visited Mataikai, Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini), marking the 66th Neighbourhood Democratic Council the Minister has engaged.
There she engaged local government and regional officials as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen local governance, improve service delivery and advance community development across Guyana.
Port Kaituma, one of the principal commercial and transportation centres in the Matarkai area, serves as an important hub for surrounding communities, supporting mining, trade and other economic activities.
Its role as a centre for commerce and essential services makes effective local governance and infrastructure development particularly important to residents and businesses.
Accompanying the Minister were key technical staff Director of Civil Works, Raul Boyer, Project Manager responsible for Solid Waste, Martina Ho-A-Lim, and Head of NDCs & Regional Development, Kishana Chang.
During the visit to the Port Kaituma, Minister Manickchand met with Port Kaituma’s Neighbourhood Democratic Council Chairman Keith Parker, Regional Vice Chairman Paul Pierre, Regional Executive Officer Dr. Steven Cheefoon, as well as councillors and the overseer for the NDC to discuss matters relating to the administration of the community, the delivery of essential services, and priorities for local development.
The engagement provided an opportunity for the Minister to hear directly from local representatives about the challenges facing the community and identify areas where additional support, improved coordination or intervention may be necessary.
Discussions centred on key areas such as persistent solid waste disposal and sanitation issues, pests and vectors, strengthening communication between local government and its stakeholders, improving transportation, upgrading public facilities across the broader Mataikai region, and removing water from the waterways.
The Minister tasked the technical team with the responsibility of working with the local leaders to bring relief to the residents as soon as possible.
Minister Manickchand emphasised the importance of responsive and accountable local governance, that includes listening to the different voices within the community to see the develo.
The visit forms part of the Ministry’s wider efforts to strengthen the functioning of local democratic organs and ensure that communities, including those in Guyana’s hinterland regions, benefit from improved governance, infrastructure and essential services.
