Region One hardly benefits from its own natural resources

http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article?id=56527338

Region One hardly benefits from its own natural resources
Stabroek News
Wednesday, August 22nd 2007

Dear Editor,

About one month ago, I made a statement at a high forum that Region One
is not a productive region. I was asked why I made such a critical
statement, when region one is producing gold, timber, ground
provisions, fruits and bio fuel.

But when the natural resources are drawn out from this region a
fraction of it goes on royalties to the national income, and the rest
goes somewhere else. Nothing is ploughed back to the region. When the
resources are exhausted within the next ten years what will we do.

Many years ago agriculture was about 80% on the productive scale in
this region, this included cattle rearing, pig rearing and many others.
You had the opportunity of taking your heifer to the agricultural
department to be served, this goes for the sow also, all for just a
small fee. That department used to supply the government hospital with
milk daily. Fruits used to be sent to the city by the thousands. These
fruits used to be transported to the ship at Kumaka by their own
vehicle. Now there is no transportation by road or water. There are no
designated agricultural officers for this region. So where are we
going?

At that forum I was told that the RDC has no jurisdiction over the
agricultural department, what a surprising statement by a government
official. If you look at some of the government buildings at Port
Kaituma you will think differently.

At Mabaruma Region One all capital road projects are yet to commence
for 2007. Some unfinished current road projects are still to be
completed for 2006, this includes Barabina road. Most of the major
machinery is down because of parts. The post office building needs
repairing.

The residents only receive five hours of electricity every night. I
asked at the RDC level that whenever the MV Kimbia is in let us have
one hour extra current, this was granted. But the two extra hours in
the morning were turned down because they claim the money is inadequate
to purchase extra fuel. We used to get the two hours in the morning
before.

They promised to extend electricity to Barabina, Bumbury, Hobo-Hill.
Barabina is predominantly an Amerindian village with lots of
residential buildings so they deserve to have electricity installed.

The regional administrator is doing her best to change things around.

Yours faithfully,

Michael Hope

Regional Councillor