By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is preparing to launch a new digital platform aimed at improving how community-level issues are reported and addressed across the country.
The initiative is designed to give citizens a direct and structured way to flag concerns such as poor drainage, flooding, damaged infrastructure, and garbage collection, while strengthening responsiveness and accountability within the local government system.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand outlined the initiative during a recent community engagement with residents of Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara. She explained that the platform will allow residents to submit specific complaints online, which will then be logged and tracked by the relevant authorities.
According to the minister, residents will be able to report issues ranging from flooded yards and defective bridges to missed garbage pickups, with the assurance that each submission will receive a response within 24 hours. She clarified, however, that a response does not necessarily mean immediate physical action.
“A response means the complaint has been acknowledged, assessed, and is being followed up,” the minister explained, noting that while some infrastructural issues require time to resolve, communication with residents will be maintained throughout the process.
Manickchand stated that while the digital platform will notify the relevant government agencies, responsibility for addressing most community concerns will rest with the local Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). The system, she said, is intended to improve coordination, reduce delays, and ensure that complaints are properly recorded and monitored.
During the engagement, residents—particularly farmers—raised concerns about drainage, irrigation, and infrastructure shortcomings affecting agricultural activity in the area. The minister reiterated government support for the farming community, acknowledging their contribution to food production and economic stability.
Farmers expressed cautious optimism that the new platform will provide a more effective channel for their concerns to be addressed and followed through.
The digital reporting system is expected to form part of broader efforts to modernise local governance, enhance service delivery, and strengthen communication between citizens and government institutions.
