Deserted house a source of concern and fear

Nov 09, 2008 News

Residents of Ocean Garden, Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara have to endure many sleepless nights due to the unpleasant conditions created by an abandoned unfinished house in their community. They say that this house is being used as a safe haven for criminals and drug addicts, called ‘junkies.’
According to residents, the abandoned structure, which is located at Lot 40 Ocean Garden, Meten Meer Zorg, has been there for over 12 years. They noted that the proprietor of the structure died some five years ago, and since then, the house is not being properly taken care of by his survivors and other family members.
Residents revealed to this newspaper that, during the late hours of the nights, ‘junkies’ would go into the structure, smoke illegal drugs, and would usually indulge in expletive-laden conversations conducted in a loud and boisterous manner.

The abandoned house which is said to be the safe haven for criminals and ‘junkies.’

Villagers noted that the men would also be consuming alcohol and would sometimes end up fighting with each other, waking up almost the entire community.
According to the residents, approximately two weeks ago, during the wee hours of the morning, they overheard a woman screaming for ‘Murder! Murder!’ and saw the woman running out from the house, covered in blood.
Residents say that the house, which is overgrown with thick vegetation, only encourages bandits to hide out in the area; and with this in mind, they noted that they are scared for their lives, since they do not know what the persons in the house can do to them during the nights.
One resident explained that when someone is in the house, that person can see everything and everyone in the community, but it is not that easy for people outside of the structure to see what is taking place in the abandoned building.
This, the residents say, is scary since, according to them, the ‘junkies’ are capable of doing anything.
The villagers say that the people in charge of taking care of the structure used to visit the premises often; but, for the past year, no one has visited the house to clear the overgrown bushes.
Some residents would sometimes try to clear the thick vegetation, but they have stopped, since the bushes would grow back quickly.
Villagers say that they are utterly frustrated with the condition of the structure, and they are afraid that the location could also become a breeding ground for caimans and snakes, which can harm not only the children in the area, but the entire community.