Govt promises basic amenities in rural areas

As part of Government’s Vision 2020, Public Utilities and the Environment Minister Pennelope Beckles has promised to deliver basic amenities and services to residents of rural communities.

She was delivering the feature address at Wednesday’s launch of the Water and Sewerage Authority’s Rio Claro water improvement project under the National Social Development Programme, (NSDP), and the Public Sector Investment Programme, (PSIP). The recently-appointed Minister also observed that such projects were part of a “viable solution towards improving the standard of living” through the provision of employment opportunities for the nation’s youth. “Beyond the provision of increased water supply, these projects will provide an outlet for youth development through the provision of much-needed jobs to individuals in the communities, as projects are being implemented,” she said.

“In short, the Government is simply investing in what is right for the nation,” Beckles added. And, with Ortoire/Mayaro MP, Franklyn Khan in attendance, Beckles promised to “do all within my power” to ensure the revival of the $40 million Navet Dam (Rio Claro) Mayaro water-main connection project. She also promised to work together with the Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation in the supply of basic amenities to rural communities.

Earlier, Works and Transport Minister, Franklyn Khan, while congratulating the Authority on providing a “first-time” potable water supply to some 500 persons within the Rio Claro district, called on the Authority to go one step further and install a 16-inch pipeline from the rural community to Mayaro. He said that rural communities could only flourish with a Government whose vision was “focused” on providing the basic amenities of life to “all of its peoples.”

Meanwhile, Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation chairman Ramlochan Panchoo thanked the Authority for including members of the Corporation into the programme saying that local government bodies were often overlooked at most official Government functions and projects. He said that the elected members of the Regional Corporations should also be included in the process of implementing and developing plans for the benefit of their constituencies. Also attending the launch was WASA CEO, Errol Grimes.