Self help efforts enhance East La Penitence Back Circle

Mar 04, 2013 News

The residents from the East La Penitence ‘Back Circle Community’ have initiated a self help group that is cultivating a healthier environment.
When Kaieteur News visited the area yesterday, about 10 persons were seen cleaning the drains and parapets.

Members of the community group cleaning a drain

Spearheading the operation is Lancelot Wills. Wills is one of the earliest inhabitants of the community. He said that it is the deep-rooted concern of members of Back Circle that causes them to ensure that the environment is clean and healthy.
“We started this group because we saw the need to maintain our environment cause is we living here and we got to take care of where we live… we pay rates and taxes but City Council doesn’t really do anything here but we do it for the benefit of having a healthy neighbourhood”
With a population of almost 700, at least 15 individuals at a time volunteer on weekends to clean the parapets, drains and remove piles of garbage. “Some persons cook while others clean. We co-operate so that more work can be done. We would appreciate donation like gloves and wheelbarrows and so to help we, but we not letting having those stuff bother we; we are continuing our work.”
Another member of the group, Ruddy Smartt said that the group has been in operation for a number of years.
“We doing this thing years now since City Council stop clean here and about 15 of we does come out on weekend and holiday and clean up. We ain’t getting help from nowhere. We does just do everything by we self; everybody does come together and put in they part.”
Smartt said that the ongoing issue of flooding has also played a major part in prompting them to act.
“See when de rain fall, this whole place does flood cause we ain’t get no proper drainage we does got to ensure de drains dem and so clean”