Thousands of residents from across Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) gathered on Friday at the University of Guyana’s Berbice Campus in Tain to take part in the government’s third Public Day outreach initiative, led by Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo.
The large-scale engagement brought together Cabinet ministers, heads of government agencies, technical officers and public servants, creating a direct platform for citizens to raise concerns, seek assistance and obtain solutions to issues affecting their daily lives.
Throughout the day, residents visited booths set up by various ministries and government agencies, where officials listened to concerns and provided information about available services. Many citizens also met Vice-President Jagdeo directly, who spent hours engaging with individuals and community groups, ensuring that matters were referred to the appropriate authorities for immediate attention and follow-up action.
The Vice-President actively coordinated responses throughout the outreach, directing residents to relevant ministries and agencies and encouraging officials to address issues promptly and efficiently. His hands-on involvement reflected the government’s commitment to bringing services closer to the people and to ensuring citizens have direct access to decision-makers.
Before the outreach began, Jagdeo reminded ministers and agency representatives that the initiative was designed to identify challenges faced by citizens and resolve them before they escalated into larger problems. He emphasised the importance of responsiveness, accountability and effective public service delivery.
Minister of Education, Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, described the outreach as a powerful example of participatory governance and citizen engagement. She noted that the event demonstrated how government officials can work directly with communities to address concerns and to receive feedback on areas where progress has been made.
According to Minister Manickchand, many residents attended because they were confident their concerns would be heard and addressed. She observed that citizens willingly took time away from their homes and workplaces, believing the government was prepared to listen and respond.
Minister Manickchand further highlighted that many of the issues raised were not merely personal matters, but concerns aimed at improving communities and enhancing public services for everyone. She described the exercise as an example of active citizenship, in which residents play an important role in shaping their communities’ development through direct engagement with government representatives.
Minister of Public Works and Aviation Deodat Indar also praised the strong turnout, noting that it reflected the public’s confidence in the government’s ability to deliver results. He explained that residents from various communities attended because they recognised that government officials were willing to listen and act on issues affecting their lives.
Minister Indar described the outreach programme as an important component of the administration’s approach to governance, emphasising that government services should be accessible to citizens regardless of where they live. He noted that initiatives such as Public Day strengthen the connection between communities and decision-makers and improve the efficiency of public service delivery.
The Public Day outreach programme is part of the government’s broader strategy to enhance citizen engagement, strengthen accountability, and ensure that concerns raised by members of the public are addressed promptly and effectively. By bringing ministers, agency heads and technical officers directly into communities, the initiative aims to remove barriers between citizens and government and to foster a more responsive, people-centred system of governance.
The overwhelming participation in Region Six underscored the importance of these engagements. It demonstrated the growing value residents place on direct interaction with government officials as Guyana continues to develop and transform.
Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has a unique ability to connect with people across Guyana. Wherever he travels, large crowds often gather, reflecting citizens’ trust in his commitment to development and to improving their communities. For countless Guyanese, his visits offer an opportunity to have their concerns heard and addressed. Over the years, he has built a reputation as a leader focused on economic growth, national development and raising the standard of living for ordinary citizens. His dedication to public service and willingness to engage directly with people have earned him widespread support and confidence throughout the country.