Let’s make this area safe for the kids

Aug 18, 2010 Letters

---

Dear Editor,
Allow me to highlight two observations.
The management of Churches Chicken in Linden, situated in Coop Crescent, formally J. P. Santos may have glossed over erecting a safety device in the open space along the river bank outside the building.
This landmark building, once a general store that provided valuable service to the Linden community for many years gone, and now managed by Churches Chicken has as its immediate neighbour the Demerara River on one side, having been erected along its bank. No doubt, and in good taste, churches has made an effort to make their surroundings more scenic and leisurely for customers by providing tables/chairs along the river side, which in my judgment is precariously too close, especially when the tide is high. While this condition may not be too much of a danger to grown ups, it can for children.
My concern was captured when recently I watched some children – between the ages of 4-8 who were taken out on a treat having fun, running along the edge and pelting stones in competitive like manner into the river, jostling each other, unaware of the danger at hand, one careless shove, a slip and the scene becomes completely ugly – mind you the water was high!
By way of this letter I’m appealing to the management of Churches to look into the safety factor, the need to erect a rail fence along this side which is approximately 30 yards. A stitch in time saves nine, let’s make this area safe for the kids.
Next: The Beautification of the River Front.
I have before commended the Town Council and those responsible for the construction of rail fence, pavement, benches and large rocks – the works done to beautify the river front along the very Coop Crescen from where one can relax and observe the river between in traffic, plied by various vessels; ships, tugboat, large/small boats, canoes or just gazed upon its placid flow, or upon the other side and its high hills.
Sadly, this river side scenery is becoming uglier with each passing day, strewn with refuse of all sorts: plastic bags/bottles, large cardboards, tin-cans, salt bags, greens, provisions, rotten onions/potatoes and of course the king of them all – tyrofoam boxes/cups.
It is as if this river front beautification is now a garbage haven! Sometimes one has to even choose a spot carefully since the atmosphere can be rather offensive.
And while the people who contribute to this deplorable state are the guilty ones who must be fully blamed for such uncaring and irresponsible behaviour, the Mayor/Town Council must also share some blame.
Why not keep constables on the beat 24/7, to arrest and penalized with high fines – this should be implemented after a relentless one month advertisement campaign on TV and bill boards, go into schools and drill them so that they become aware, after such an exercise there can be no excuse.
Also M&TC must frequently clean this area, not allowing shrubs and whatever to take over the rocks.
But it has also been observed that taxi drivers who now use this river front as a park add even more to this disgusting site by way of their boisterous and overloaded profane vulgar conversation with regards to none whatsoever! And this is just not acceptable.
Frank Fyffe

Mr. Semple was simply expressing the concerns farmers

Dear Editor,
I am appalled and quite taken back by the tone of Miss David of the PTCCB response to the letter written by Mr. L. H. Semple on the backtrack chemicals that dominate the Agri. Chemicals market in Guyana.
A nation’s agri-sector should never be affected and retarded to a large extent by Government officials. Yes! Those officials, who believe that the ordinary farmer or the poor and powerless dare not comment, express opinions or even criticise institutions like the PTCCB despite the tremendous failings and blatant inefficiencies that continue to stifle the agri-sector in this country.
I wish to ask this ‘Servant of the people’ why all the venom on this farmer, when it is clear for all, especially those of us who live on the agri-belt to see that Mr. Semple was simply expressing the concerns of many farmers. Indeed the truth hurts and for those at the PTCCB it hurts to the bone.
If what Mr. Semple said is not true, then how do Miss David and the PTCCB explain to this nation the reason for backtrack chemicals being sold freely in markets along the agri-belt, under the nose of this impotent body?Let Miss David inform this nation whether the PTCCB has a functioning lab, and how long it has been in use and how long the lab equipment came into the country and were or still lies idle? Before being put into full use for the benefit of the taxpayers, whose hard earned money paid for them.
Miss David should tell this nation’s taxpayers where those training programmes were held and state the names of some of the stakeholders that attended these seminars. Also, Miss David should say if it is not true that most of the time the PTCCB would “piggy back” on the RPA’s funded activities by sharing out chemicals to some farmers and return days later to farmers and gather information from these farmers on the results from their usage?
Miss David would be the first to agree that these sessions are just pamphlets sharing exercise with no field work. If Mr. Semple is wrong, show the nation a list of farms, where the various field tests and training were done.
Why don’t the PTCCB invite the media along with knowledgeable stakeholders to witness the operations of its lab so as to prove the effectiveness and capability of this body that is funded by taxpayers?
Yes! While stakeholders and the media are at NARI facilities the PTCCB can show the media some of the results of tests done on Agri Chemicals imported into the country. If this is not possible because of constraints beyond the Board’s control then allow the media along with stakeholders to take a look at the records of tests that were carried out on imported chemicals.Mr. Semple is on the ball when he expressed the fact that this body is bureaucratic and sadly out of touch with the agri-sector. If it is true that this Board is not in a deep coma and it is working with the GRA and Bass to reduce the incidence of smuggled chemicals to farmers in Guyana, then let Miss David and the Board publish a list of the names of those who were prosecuted over the last five years, so that we can see their effectiveness in the Agri- Sector.
I believe Mr. Semple’s estimate of 53% of the market share for Agri chemicals are controlled by backtrackers is very generous to this failed government organisation.
It is common knowledge to all except Miss David and her Board that the backtrackers are now teaming up with many millers by supplying them with the cheap backtrack chemicals which they dump upon the poor rice farmers, who credit everything from millers until his paddy is reaped.
Finally, I believe that our hard working and energetic Minister of Agriculture should launch an investigation into this section of his ministry that brings in no income into the country.
I humbly suggest that the Honourable Minister close this unit for now until a proper investigation is carried out, or at least bring it under the control of the research station at Burma or the analyst department etc.
It is only then government officials like Miss David will understand that little is accomplished by the assault on the integrity or credibility of our hard working farmers.
Pertab Singh

---

---