District meetings |18 May 2023

President interacts with residents from Mont Buxton

President Wavel Ramkalawan yesterday afternoon met with the residents of Mont Buxton to hear their propositions on issues affecting them in their district and at national level.

The meeting, the third in the series that are being organised in all districts, was held at the La Promenade Gymnasium, English River.

There were many questions put to the president (generally and personally) related to thefts, housing, housing loans, environment, health, education, tax, social assistance, traffic and public toilet facilities in Victoria, and on other decisions taken by government, among other issues.

Among some of the questions was what are the procedures to get assistance from the Agency for Social Protection (ASP) as some people in need of assistance are not getting the aid.

President Ramkalawan said government is working to relook at the procedures so that those in need will be assisted.

He added that government had to revise the procedures to curb abuses that were happening.

He noted it was a pity that some people who may have really needed the assistance might have been neglected in the process.

Explaining the responsibility of government and the direction it has taken, President Ramkalawan said that the government, at this point in time, is still doing a maintenance job as a result of the previous government’s mismanagement and contributed by people who just waited to receive direction from the authority before taking any actions.

He stated that his administration is still trying to change the past mindset and to get people to take initiatives and responsibility for their decisions and actions.

He added that the country has made great strides since the new administration and if the government had no direction, the country economically would not have been in the position it is in right now.

Answering a question with regard to compensation for nurses, President Ramkalawan said that he recognised the noble work that they do and that government is looking to compensate them, as well as all other workers, but that will depend on the country’s continued performance.

He stated that government will see with the Health Care Agency for the possibility of an additional bed (small) in the children’s ward for the comfort of a parent spending the night with their child.

He noted that the Ministry of Health is in the process of recruiting more specialists to assist our local patients.

With regard to the maintenance of a river at upper Mont Signal, where trees and shrubs are being removed resulting in the loss of species, President Ramkalawan said that the concerned ministry will visit the area to assess the situation in a bid to protect the river and species therein.

There were many questions related to personal issues and apart from those that President Ramkalawan answered directly, the others were referred to the specific ministers, the elected member of the National Assembly, Gervais Henrie, and other related agencies to take note for further actions.

After the meeting, President Ramkalawan thanked the residents for their contributions and he assured them that his administration will continue to listen and consult with them for the best propositions and solutions for the advancement of the country.

The next meeting is today at 5pm at the Roche Caiman community centre for the Roche Caiman residents.  

Patrick Joubert