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Rose Hall Town gears up for Town Week 2009
ROSE HALL TOWN, CORENTYNE – The Rose Hall Town Week is scheduled for September 20th to 27th.
The week of activities would feature a Spelling Bee Competition for primary schools within the catchment area, a Debating Competition for secondary schools, the Street Fair, sporting events and a Beach Day.
Chairman of the RHIMC Bhadenauth Somrah
The main goal is to create awareness of, what he said is the journey made from September 20th, 1970 when the community was known as Rose Hall Village to present day. Chairman of the Rose Hall Interim Management Committee (RHIMC), Bhadenauth Somrah, noted that there have been several strides over the years, inter alia, improved infrastructure and the drainage and irrigation system.
Another accomplishment is the market which was once set on the roadside. This is now housed below the Council’s Office and allows for vendors and buyers to transact business in comfort.
Last year’s income from rates and taxes declined by $2 million when placed alongside the 2007 figure.
In 2008, $5.2 million was collected and in 2007 the figure stood at $7.3 million.
In 2008 the market revenue, without any budgetary increase, went up by $150,000 each month and in December of that year the figure rose to $1.5 million.
According to Mr. Somrah, the flow of earnings enabled the Interim Management Committee to increase salary and wages twice in 2008.
Town Clerk Selwyn Johnson
However, this year, revenue from rates and taxes collection is not expected to surpass the 2008 figure.
He acknowledged that there are challenges facing the Interim Management Committee but the administration is now prioritising the needs to suit its income. The payment of rates and taxes is a major bugbear. So far, just over 21 percent has been collected, “All expenditures are now curtailed!”
This year’s market revenue was expected to maintain the same trend as in 2008 but there were some setbacks. One such, he cited, is the determination of merchants to remain on the roadside rather than vend their produce in the actual market. This means that many of them do not honour their obligation to pay the market revenue.
On the other hand, over the years, the vendors have been complaining of unsatisfactory conditions in the market structure and unfair competition.
Meanwhile, under the Rose Hall Town Interim Management Committee’s Capital Work Programme for 2009, using the Government Subvention, a number of projects have been identified.
These include the desalting of the internal drainage network from Williamsburg to Rose Hall Town. A concrete culvert is to be built at Seventh Street, Swamp Section in Rose Hall Town and road surfaces are to be maintained.
Three footpath bridges are to be constructed and two heavy duty bridges are to be rehabilitated. The plan for the bill of quantities, he said, is now with the Region Six Engineer, Paul Lyken.
Mr. Somrah is hopeful that within a month the contracts would be awarded. These four ventures would amount to $8 million, which represents the 2009 subvention allocated to the municipality.
The Rose Hall Town Interim Management Committee is constructing an access dam and bridge to the dump site, and re-organisation of the location is also on the cards. Work began earlier this year and is scheduled for an August completion date. The cost for the dump site project is $8 million and utilises the entire 2008 subvention. This contract is in the hands of Somdat Lorrick of Number Forty-eight Village.
Mr. Somrah noted that there is also the Community Enhancement Programme which is financed by the Ministry of Agriculture. Taking into consideration the poor rates and taxes collection, he called it a blessing to the municipality.
The Chairman made yet another call to residents to pay up their dues. “You ought to honour your commitment with the Council. Failure to do so means you cannot represent matters by being a defaulter, in order words, if you do not pay, you cannot make demands.”
Meanwhile, meetings were held in relation to the Town Week observance. Mr. Somrah noted that the municipality is not financially competent to pull off such a big event and moreso does not have the manpower.
Against this backdrop, the Interim Management Committee gave permission to stakeholders, namely the Rose Hall Town Anniversary Committee, to host the week of activities.
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