Two years after attaining township status, Bartica in Region Seven, Cuyuni-Mazaruni has much to celebrate. This year, Mayor Gifford Marshall said the spotlight will be placed on the development of the people.

The town, which was officially inaugurated on May 7, 2016, has seen major infrastructural and social developments. However, the Mayor told the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Friday, that it just cannot forget its human resource.

“In a nutshell, we will be focusing this month on our people and building their capacity,” he told the DPI, noting that people empowerment will be part of the focus in the town’s run-up to Local Government Election later this year.

The township, and to a wider extent the region, does not have a tertiary institution and as a result, a large number of the youths in the community are often not gainfully occupied. Mayor Marshall said the municipal office will continue advancing the cause of its scholarship programme and, more importantly, will be encouraging its youths to take advantage of the opportunities.

The mayor said the town holds dear to its heart the situation of persons living with disability in the region. As such, he is hoping that a building would be soon made available for them to utilize.

In celebration of the town’s two-year anniversary, Mayor Marshall showed DPI the gift he received on behalf of the town, from Minster of Communities Ronald Bulkan. It is a photocopied note sent to Minister Bulkan by President David Granger four years ago, suggesting that Bartica become a town.

At that time, President Granger was leader of the APNU party and Minister Bulkan, shadow Minister of Local Government and Regional Development.

The note reads “I will like to discuss with you the possibility of introducing a motion to make Mabaruma, Mahdia, Bartica and Lethem a town.”

Marshall said the note which is dubbed “origin of Bartica’s Township status” is “timely” and is something that will be cherished by the township.

Source:DPI