Hundreds of residents from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) gathered at the National Track and Field Centre in Leonora on Friday, when Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo led another successful public outreach initiative to address community concerns and improve access to government services.
The outreach attracted a large turnout, with residents taking advantage of the opportunity to engage directly with senior government officials, Cabinet ministers and representatives from various ministries and agencies.
Dr Bharrat Jagdeo is widely regarded as a politician who delivers on his commitments, with his actions often reflecting his words. This credibility has built strong public trust, and as a result, whenever he visits communities, large numbers of people gather to meet him and engage with him directly.
Dedicated service stations were set up across the venue, enabling citizens to raise issues related to housing, land matters, agriculture, social services, infrastructure and other areas affecting their daily lives. Residents could also access a range of services, including eye examinations and consultations with government agencies.
Throughout the day, Dr Jagdeo met with scores of residents, listening to their concerns and ensuring that matters were referred to the appropriate agencies for swift attention and resolution.
Many attendees praised the initiative, noting that it provided a convenient platform for interacting with government officials and receiving assistance without having to visit multiple offices.
Among those attending was Subbaschand Bachan, who came to the outreach for help with housing-related issues. He expressed satisfaction with the process, describing the event as well organised and efficient.
Bachan said he was able to address his housing concerns while also benefiting from the free eye-testing services at the venue.
Another resident, Jamal Pereira, commended the government for creating a space where ordinary citizens could speak directly with senior officials. He explained that he attended regarding a land matter and was encouraged when officials collected his information and assured him they would follow up on the issue.
Pereira noted that the outreach gave residents a valuable opportunity to interact closely with the Vice-President, ministers and agency representatives, thereby making government services more accessible.
Derek Persaud also praised the exercise, describing it as evidence of the government’s commitment to engaging with communities and finding practical solutions to citizens’ concerns.
He said the presence of the Vice-President and ministers demonstrated a genuine effort to understand the challenges facing residents and to resolve them.
Region Three outreach forms part of the government’s ongoing nationwide programme to bring services closer to communities, strengthen public engagement, and ensure residents have direct access to the officials responsible for addressing their concerns.
With another large turnout and positive feedback from participants, the initiative continues to be regarded as an effective way to connect citizens with government decision-makers and deliver solutions at the community level.