Poor drainage preventing burials…Town Clerk must also be held accountable

Jan 17, 2014 News

– Opposition MPs
Given the fact that the Local Government Minister continues to have the Town Clerk, Carol Sooba and her “unpredictable management style” interfering in the affairs of the Local Authority, then she too must be held accountable for the disgusting state of affairs at the cemetery.

Ronald Bulkan

This was the assertion of members of the opposition who have expressed their frustration and repulsion with the cemetery being flooded which has caused several funeral homes to take back bodies that were scheduled for burial during this week.
According to previous reports, the recent rainfall which caused the cemetery to be flooded had forced funeral homes to suspend some of their burial arrangements. This included the burial of one of Guyana’s most respected broadcasters Mr. Terence Holder.
Commenting at length on the issue was David Patterson, member of the political opposition party, the Alliance For Change (AFC).
“It is downright disgusting that after so many years we seem unable to get a handle on the situation. Everyone knows that Guyana’s coastland is below sea level and as such it is critical that we pay attention to our drainage systems. Yet every time it rains, even if it is the slightest of showers, some parts of the city and the coastland are flooded. Styrofoam and plastics alone don’t cause the drains to be blocked; we also have to look at the way construction is being done, and how much builder’s waste gets trapped in the drains and the poor maintenance programmes by the responsible authorities.”
“In terms of burial grounds being flooded, this is a sad escalation of the problem – families are now being deprived of the opportunity of paying their final respects to their loved ones. The government has long displayed little respect for the living; this has now been extended to the dead. If the government believes that they can do a better job in keeping the city clean, then it is their call to have local government elections. It must be remembered, however, that the government has its appointee at City Hall in the person of the Town Clerk (Carol Sooba), so she must also be held accountable.”
Supporting Patterson’s position was A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Shadow Minister of Local Government, Ronald Bulkan.
He emphatically stated that the state of the cemetery is, “A complete shame and disgrace. It is a reflection of the poor drainage system in Guyana and it lies squarely at the feet of the Local Government. The Ministry continues to interfere in the work of the Local Authority, and as such it is unable to exercise its autonomous rights. They continue to violate the Constitution, and as such we have situations such as this arising.”

David Patterson

The Shadow Minster then also made reference to Sooba, as he claims that the Town Clerk continues to impose her will on the council “but it is clear to see that her “management style” has made it conducive for the state of the drainage system to continue.”
He added, “She has not pronounced on the issue or proposed any solutions, yet the Government continues to back her appointment despite the fact that these sickening situations continue to occur under her watch. She needs to be held accountable as well.”