Jagdeo says Linden outreach a success, dismisses protest as 'miserable failure'

Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo Tuesday night declared the government’s outreach in Region Ten a success, saying hundreds of residents turned out to raise concerns despite calls by political opponents to boycott the exercise. Speaking at the end of an all-day engagement in Linden, Jagdeo said ministers, Members of Parliament and technical officials from several government agencies spent more than eight hours meeting residents and addressing issues ranging from housing and land leases to public assistance. “We started at 10, and we just wrapped up, and it’s 6:28 p.m. now, so we had a long day, and I think a very successful day,” Jagdeo said. He said the concerns raised by residents mirrored those heard during similar government outreaches across the country and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to resolving them. “As is typical of many of these public days, the issues surrounded housing and leases for land, some public assistance, and a lot of similar issues. We’ve encountered similar issues across the country, and the government is committed to working to resolve all of these issues for people everywhere in our country, regardless of where they live, and the people of Region Ten are no exception,” he said. Jagdeo said the Government would remain focused on delivering long-term development rather than being sidetracked by political distractions. “We’re not going to be distracted by extraneous noise and by those who try to knock us off the course that we have defined,” he said, arguing that while some government policies may not produce immediate results, they are intended to create sustainable growth and prosperity. He also pointed to increases in public sector wages and salaries as evidence that the Government has continued to provide immediate support to citizens while pursuing broader development goals. But it was the response to calls for a boycott of the outreach that drew some of Jagdeo’s strongest comments. He said a small group attempted to disrupt the event by making noise nearby but insisted the effort had little impact on the day’s activities. “I heard some people were making noise… It did not distract the large number of people who showed up here today,” he said. The protest was led by Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and included former Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, along with other opposition Members of Parliament and supporters, who staged a demonstration outside the venue while government officials met with residents inside. They later breached the gates According to Jagdeo, those behind the protest had hoped residents would stay away from the outreach but were unsuccessful. “They were hoping that people would boycott coming to this activity. They failed miserably. They failed miserably. People just ignored all that they had to say.” The Vice President said the turnout demonstrated that residents were more interested in finding solutions to everyday challenges than engaging in political disputes. “It shows that people don’t care too much for the politics when it concerns their lives,” he said. “So I’m happy that they failed.” The outreach formed part of the Government’s ongoing programme of taking ministers and senior officials into communities to hear grievances directly and facilitate the delivery of public services.