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A litany of wrongs

Mar 10, 2012 Letters

 

DEAR EDITOR,
I am very sure that the Ministry of Housing and Water is vehemently opposed to squatting. This I fully support. Most ‘squatting’ areas descend into squalor, presenting a haven for crimes and health hazards. It becomes incumbent upon me, to point out a burgeoning squatting area, with a number of growing ills.
In Marshon, Annandale, East Coast Demerara (close to the Annandale Sea Wall), a few squatters have encroached upon the playing field of the area. In fact, this area has been the recreational zone for the villagers for decades, where even competitions organised by the East Coast Cricket Board have been held. Daily, children frequent the playfield to ‘have fun and frolic’ in cricket, football and rounders. However, there now exists a threat, to the children and the community as a whole.
Squatters have actually set up lodging and it is to the point where even a fish operation is flourishing. This has significantly reduced the size of the playing area. Please be reminded that the area in question was once a swampy marsh that villagers self-helped to bring it to its present recreative condition.
By these squatters setting up pit latrines in the open, coupled with the run-off waste from the fish operation, the stench is most obvious and unacceptable. The playing children, too, are constantly being threatened by these invaders. A few times, I have actually seen their innocent frolicking come to a sudden end – their balls bumping into the pit latrines.
Please envisage this; no place to dump garbage, no electricity, no running water, cooking and defecating in the open, etc. are not lending to good health for anyone – the perpetrators nor the people in the village. This is aesthetically unpleasant and a sore to the community that decent-minded persons strive to enhance and develop.
I do point out, that like so many other ills – noise nuisance, speeding vehicles, garbage dumping, drain clogging, etc., unless this present illegal squatting is arrested, then it will evolve (degenerate I mean) into a condition that may be cancerous to society (or maybe a poto-poto park).
In the latter part of last year, there was a visit by the honourable Minister Irfaan Ali, accompanied by officials of his ministry, who met with some residents after which he declared that those squatters would be moved, but until now no measure has been taken. Emboldened by the seeming inability or delay by the Minister to act, the squatters have moved to erect permanent concrete structures, having changed from wood, and some have even strengthened their fences, signaling their intention to defy the laws that be.
I, hereby place before the Honourable Minister a request to once again retake this issue which is gnawing away at the comfort of life, and presents so many hurdles to those who seek development in abidance with the rule of law. Should we not act now, the inevitable removal will be an arduous and unpleasant job.
Rakesh Moonilall

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