The Government of Guyana has brought essential public services closer to residents of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), with the establishment of a Government Service Centre at Lethem. The centre will allow residents to process passports, birth and death certificates, marriage licences, national electronic identification (e-ID) cards and police clearance certificates, among other services.

On Saturday, the facility was officially launched at the Lethem Business Incubator Centre. The event was attended by Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, Zulfikar Ally; Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, and Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Pauline Sukhai, among other Government officials. Delivering brief remarks, Anthony highlighted the significance of the initiative, noting that the establishment of the Service Centre represents an important step forward for Region Nine and will make Government services more accessible to residents.

“Previously, where you had to go to Georgetown to access these services, those services are now coming to you. Under this same roof, you can work on your birth certificate, marriage certificate and your GRA (Guyana Revenue Authority) documents,” Anthony emphasised. He explained that the Centre will provide a cluster of Government services in one convenient location, reducing the need for residents to travel long distances, particularly to Georgetown, to conduct essential transactions. The Minister noted that the initiative reflects the Government’s continued efforts to decentralise public services and ensure that citizens, regardless of where they live, have easier and more efficient access to Government agencies.