Minister Persaud’s concern cannot be overstated

Sep 03, 2012 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Kindly allow me to add a comment on the several articles that are being published in the Kaieteur News with regards to observations by the Honorable Minister of Local Government, Ganga Persaud and several other contributors on Local Government Administration in Guyana. Minister Persaud’s concern cannot be overstated. He lamented, and with some foresight of an impending failure, or  failed Local Government System in Guyana, posited correctly that, “when a system fails, becomes non-responsive, less than effective….the weaknesses are often not inherent in the laws and principles, they are often inherent in us humans…. It is for that reason that we recognize that accountability and transparency at the level of Local Government must be righted, boosted and consistent across the country”. That, Mr. Editor, directly relates to answers, why the NDC’s are in such a bad state across the country.
The observations raised by the Honorable Minister are the truth and he has splendidly summarized the situation correctly. Here it is that for all the pomp and ceremony that is being given to Local and Regional Development, on the East Coast, specifically within the Buxton/Foulis Community, something disturbing is taking place. “The Buxton/Foulis Neighbourhood Democratic Council and NDC Officer (s) are being used as a conduit to populate that strip in the Buxton/Foulis Neighbourhood Democratic Council Community, called Section C, Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, with purely Indian Guyanese, while at the same time pursuing a policy of frustrating or denying Guyanese from acquiring land and building homes in that area’’. One example is stated hereunder.
I presented a complete set of original documents to the Buxton/Foulis Neighbourhood Democratic Council on August 4, 2011 for the processing of a set of house plans for a building to be erected on plot 99, Section C, Enterprise, East Coast Demerara. To date I have not been officially informed in any way or form, as to whether those plans have been approved or not. Is this a mistake or an oversight? I say no! During this same period, while I wait for approval or disapproval, another person presented documents to said Buxton/Foulis Neighbourhood Council requesting approval to construct a building on the said Lot 99 Section C, Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, and the request was entertained. It did not matter that the Council had my application. Not only did this person annex the property, but had signs put up threatening prosecution to trespassers, while he was in fact the trespasser, he carried out revetment work on said property thinking that he had bought it. Is there no record keeping, administrative or otherwise, to determine what is taking place in the Buxton/Foulis Community? Who owns what? Who laid paperwork with the Council? Or was it, according to the Honorable Minister, “the NDC Officer (s) …. have modified and adopted the system to operate in a manner they want it to”. Four properties were up for sale at the time I bought my plot of land. I am the only one today still waiting on approval.  Others are living in their houses today. Is this just a coincidence?
While to date I have made no formal complaints as yet to the Ministry of Local Government, or any other Government Agency on this or any other issue, that’s because I am presently living in the United States of America, and probably to those concerned I am not within the reaches for justice in Guyana. Probably it is felt that I am not even entitled to the right, title and interest of said property. But while this letter is to support the Honorable Minister in his quest for some sort of effectiveness in the management of the NDC’s, my matter is far from over. Yes! I intend to formally make my complaints to the Authorities concerned, but I also intend to take legal action against the Council and the NDC Officer (s) involved in the detention of my house plan.
There are known problems with several NDC’s, but I also know that the problems with this particular Neighbourhood Democratic Council is out of control. Things are happening within the villages and communities that this Council supervises, and those communities are decaying as a result, and decaying at a rate that I am certain this Council’s ‘dysfunctional and non-productive behavior ‘ makes it, either unwilling ,or is incapable of correcting the problems that exists.
Good luck Mr. Minister, I hope that you are not only willing to speak about dysfunctional and non-productive behavior but rather take decisive actions as a result.
Adrian (Rudy) Coppin

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