Jagdeo highlights agencies’ responsiveness, GPL as key areas for improvement in next term

Building better capacity to achieve his party’s ambitious housing agenda, improving the responsiveness of government agencies and fixing the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) are key areas for the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) next term in office, according to General Secretary Dr Bharrat Jagdeo.

Jagdeo, who is also the country’s Vice President, was asked today to comment on his government’s shortcomings in the past five years.

He admitted that one area in which the PPP/C needs to address is the capacity among local contractors in the housing sector. While noting that the government has achieved great successes with the delivery of over 50,000 house lots and young professional homes to citizens, the party had hoped to do more.

For instance, he said the government wanted to deliver more core homes and young professional houses, however, the local capacity was not available.

With plans to deliver 40,000 homes in the next five years, Jagdeo said this is one area which the administration will have to reassess, since many local contractors are currently “stretched to the max”.

Another key area is improving the responsiveness of government agencies, he admitted. Jagdeo recalled that during various outreaches across the country, citizens often complained of the round around they would receive at several institutions including the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) and Town Councils.

In this regard, the Vice President emphasised that NDCs and Town Councils will have to be held more accountable for the delivery of their functions such as clearing drains and garbage collection.

In fact, Jagdeo lamented that many NDCs, even though they have received a significant boost in their government subvention this year, are yet to spend a cent to execute projects in their constituencies.

NDCs, city councils, police & judiciary will have to be more accountable in years ahead – Jagdeo

Meanwhile, Jagdeo said in the next five years, the administration will work on great financial inclusion for citizens, recognising that in many far-flung areas, residents do not have access to basic banking services.

The PPP/C GS further noted that there needs to be better service from the country’s telecommunications provider and that the issues surrounding GPL will have to be addressed.