The government insists that it handed gifts to Berbicians

Jun 16, 2010 Letters

Dear EDITOR,
Please allow me space in your paper to have my voice heard on the “gifts” we, as Berbicians, have received from this government.
It is almost disgusting to listen to someone from the government, whether it is the Regional Chairman, a Minister or the President, give a public address in Berbice. On every occasion we have to hear “this government gave you the university at Tain; we gave you the Berbice River Bridge and we also gave you the Skeldon factory”.
Let me say that these are structures that were erected during the reign of the PPPC but are they gifts to Berbicians? These are obligations a government had to fulfill to a section of the country that has been neglected for too long. These are not handouts, hence the saying, “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” does not apply. I will now look at these “gifts” not just in the mouth but in all other places.
A car or small vehicle has to pay $2,200 that is US$11 to cross the Berbice River Bridge. (I will leave the other charges for other vehicles out of this discussion to make it simple) A while ago, a certain senior government official who is popularly known as “Mutt” was on a TV programme and I called in to mention that the cost of crossing the Berbice River Bridge is more than twice the cost of crossing the George Washington Bridge between New Jersey and New York. The people in Guyana do not earn half as much as the people in New York.
“Mutt” said that we should not come from America and expect to have things here the same way they are in New York Such a dumb answer.
Are we supposed to feel good that we are paying so much to cross the Berbice River but be thrilled that we do not have to wait as long as we used to when we had to use the ferry? It is just one hundred dollar to cross the Demerara River .
What are we in Berbice? Scapegoats?
The inconvenience to other travellers is surfacing everyday. No facilities for pedestrian or cyclist and the geniuses who thought of putting the bridge in place never batted an eyelid over the cars and buses that ply the route.
Why is there no bus stop or car park anywhere near the access road? Then instead of looking at that as an afterthought the government is building a gas station at a bend that is so dangerous—the Seawell Turn.
We have to be lucky to have a bridge across the Berbice River .
As an after thought, we also have UG. It is a campus that is still struggling to have lecturers to make a diploma programme practical.
I can scream, “Anyone wants a degree well we have UG at Tain but you have to go to Turkeyen for your degree. Is there a technology programme at Tain?? Of course it is the one we are dreaming of.
And do not forget that our dream of having a branch of UG in Berbice has become a reality. So lets keep on dreaming of a degree or technology programme here also.
How about the state of the art factory at Skeldon? State of the art it is. I visited that place and I was amazed at the technology that is in place there.
It is a powerful factory but what are we to do with it?
We do not have the cane to keep it running, the electricity it generates can’t be passed to the grids that supply Berbice because the proper lines and other power distributing facilities are not in place.
Then Godbrother, GPL, just decided to shut down Canefield and Onverwagt generating stations. The result? With all the state of the art equipment Berbicians are now privileged to have more un-announced and infrequent blackouts than before the introduction of this state of the art factory.
As an aside, this government is bent on setting up structures and roads and all the things that look good for the forthcoming election. Our roaming president even defended the Amaila Falls road at the recent Oslo conference in Norway.
Sounds good. Here is a trick question. Do we have the funding to build a hydro-electric plant there? Or do we have any potential investor who will set up this generating station? Just a thought.
This government ought to behave as if it has an obligation to the people and not be carried away or emotionally thrilled when something is done in Berbice. Any infrastructure development is not a gift it is fulfilling an obligation.
Charrandass Persaud
Attorney-at-law

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The government insists that it handed gifts to Berbicians

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