Residents of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) can now more easily access essential government services following the inauguration of a new Government of Guyana Service Centre in Fort Wellington this week.
Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, Zulfikar Ally, marked this opening as a significant step in decentralizing public services, making it easier for residents to obtain vital documents.
Accompanied by Minister of Education Sonia Parag, Ally emphasized the advantages of local service access. “Citizens can now obtain passports, certificates for births, deaths, and marriages, E-ID cards, and police clearances without the long and costly trip to Georgetown,” he stated.
Ally also addressed concerns about long wait times at the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), urging citizens to take advantage of the forthcoming complete digitization of services. “We don’t want you lining up at the NIS just to check your contributions or verify if your employer is compliant.” He added that residents would soon have access to services directly from their phones.
This new centre symbolizes the government’s citizen-centric service delivery model, which began with a similar facility in Leonora, Region Three, late last year. Ally reported that thousands have already benefited from that location, and he encouraged residents to explore the digital tools being introduced to simplify appointments and service requests.
Minister Parag highlighted the transformative benefits of this initiative for the community. “Many residents had to take a day off work to travel to Georgetown, only to face the possibility of not receiving the service they needed,” she elaborated. “Now, having these services available in your region is crucial to improving accessibility and efficiency.”
The rollout of E-ID cards is also poised to revolutionize public and private sector transactions, streamlining everyday interactions for residents. Both ministers emphasized the government’s commitment to reducing travel, wait times, and bureaucratic challenges.
As the Government of Guyana continues to enhance its public service delivery, the opening of the Fort Wellington Service Centre marks a promising step toward local accessibility and efficiency.
