Better can definitely be done in Kwakwani

May 05, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
In my last letter, I highlighted that the state of the roads in Kwakwani were the worst I have seen and they reflect the quality of our leaders.
I was quite wrong about the roads, because some roadwork was done to the value of milllions of dollars and they are worse than what I called worst.I never knew that our roads can be made worse than what I saw then.
As an outspoken resident and one who would like to see my community progress, I make it my duty to be present at public meetings to hear for myself what plans are in store for my community’s benifit. And what I am now begining to realise is that some persons have a monopoly on ideas on what is important and can be of benefit to Kwakwani.
The sad part is their ideas must derive some personal benefit to them – if not they make sure that no other ideas are entertained. So we are in a state where you have to be in a certain circle for any idea you have to be considered, even if the residents are suffering.
I am very interested in hearing from the leaders of my community answers to the following;
– What form of engagement exists between the leadership of the community and stakeholders – e.g. Bauxite Company and Forest Producers?
– Who or what is responsible for the Bauxite Company stopping their financial assistance to the community?
– Is it possible for the community to maintain a hydraulically operated motor grader when we are finding it difficult to operate a farm tractor?
– Can we build roads if we cannot fix a few potholes?
– Who is looking out for our Youths? Has anyone taken notice of the high numbers of teenage pregnancies, gambling among 12-year-olds and drug use by our youths?
– What became of the promised Vocational Youth Training Programme & Equipment?
– Who will go to the frontline and demand answers about the community water system where over $23M from the IDB and other donor agencies was spent to lay pipelines and the residents are still to use them.
I can go on, but will stop to say that we cannot get electricity without a negative current or force. If I am seen by my leaders as negative for highlighting the truth about what is happening in my community then so be it.
The Kwakwani community should never be allowed to be and remain in the state it is. There are adequate resources available to make it better. It is up to the residents to demand of the leadership and work towards making the community better.
One senior resident once told me “Take care of the cents and the dollars will take care of themselves”. If we can take care of the little things, the big things will automatically take cake of themselves.
Jocelyn Morian

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