Le Repentir Cemetery “running out of space”

Jun 15, 2014 News

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“Council doesn’t currently have resources to tackle the issue” – Royston  King

By Dwijendra Rooplall

We are all concerned by the current state of Le Repentir Cemetery with its unpleasant aesthetics – cluttered with

thick overgrowth of bushes and garbage-laden pathways – as the final resting place for the dead, but what we didn’t know is that the facility might soon be filled.
That’s right, the cemetery space-wise has approximately 7 or 8 years left before all the land is used up.
Speaking to Kaieteur News on the state of the cemetery and its remaining lifespan was Royston King from the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) who said that “the challenge we face at the cemetery is one of resources; the availability of resources. We really just don’t have the resources to do the things that we are required to do to make the cemetery the place that we really want it to be as the final resting place for our loved ones.”
He said this is evident by the current physical condition of the general area. “The cemetery has deteriorated into a state that we certainly could not be proud of, but we are doing our best in the circumstances.”
King highlighted further that the lack of resources he speaks of is not limited to financing, but has also to do with manpower.
“This has been our challenge not only in the cemetery, but to all the areas of our responsibility at the level of our city; including of markets, roadways, drainage of the city, municipal and child care services, environmental and public health services.”
Speaking to the issue of space, King highlighted that based on the information that he has received, providing that they have the resources to restore the cemetery they could make a significant difference.
“What they had said to me is that they have been able to clear a section of the cemetery and that clearance could provide burial for another year, and there are other areas that could be cleared that can prolong the life of the cemetery for another four to five years, but it goes back to the challenge of accessing and obtaining the resources to do the necessary work to have the new space available for us to do the burial.”
“Our spending is outpacing our income, because there is a greater demand for vital municipal services in the city. The demand is greater, but our revenue has not been increasing. We have not had valuations for the past 20 years for properties.  We have not been able to implement new revenue-earning measures, including meter parking, and some of the other proposals that we have made which require governmental fiat (formal authorization or permission),” said King.

“Council has been unable to persuade the government that we need to implement those revenue-earning measures, and if you were not able to implement them, you would not be able to generate new monies as it were.”
According to King, compounding the situation is the fact that “in some areas where people once paid domestic rates they are now operating businesses out of their homes and instead of paying the commercial rate they continue to pay the domestic rate”.
“This is just an example as to why our spending outpaces what we are actually getting in, and as a result of that, even though we have the responsibility we are unable to do that, because we don’t have the money to do it.
“Our main source of revenue is property taxes of which we don’t collect all. We have fees from building plans and monies coming in from the markets. Some of these services are heavily subsidized. We, in essence, spend twice of what we earn,” King outlined.
“Had we been allowed to increase our revenue base, there probably would have been no need for this interview to go in this particular direction. You would have had an interview on a more positive side, because we would have had a state-of-the-art cemetery.”
He mentioned that the engineers of the M&CC in 2008 developed a comprehensive plan to develop the cemetery, but that didn’t come off because of the lack of resources plaguing the council.

THE COMMUNITY
Beyond the council’s responsibility, King highlighted that there is a community aspect with the whole maintenance of the cemetery that needs to be given some attention.

He said that the city council charges a one-off fee of $19,500 for casket death and ordinary burial will cost $17,500.
“Once you pay that money to the city council and you bury your dead, you don’t have to come and pay anything else. In the meantime the council is saddled with the responsibility of maintaining the cemetery and the aesthetics within the cemetery.”
According to King, citizens need to pay a little bit more attention to the resting place of their loved ones, notwithstanding the fact that it is the responsibility of the council. “They should see it as a personal responsibility to ensure that the resting places of their loved ones are kept in a clean and tidy manner at all times.”
King highlighted that they have not even been able to provide a rudimentary level of security, in the form of fencing for the cemetery, let alone the de-bushing and cutting down of the massive tress among other things, and that is why the community has to pitch in and do their part.

CREMATORIUM
One of the highlights that the council expressed happiness about is that they were able to partner with Dr. Carl Niamatali and construct a crematorium within the cemetery.
“That should help when it comes to the challenge of providing space and longevity in the cemetery, particularly for those persons who believe in cremation,” King opined.
“Some people have expressed fears that the crematorium might be inappropriately located, because they are of the view that the emissions that it would give off would not be healthy for the community. The point we want to make here is that the cremation will be done electronically, it is not a smoke pot; it is modern and will utilize modern technology in the cremation process”
King emphasized that the crematorium caters to all.
“I think the council will want to continue with similar projects like that within the cemetery, working with developers to help enhance that facility and ensure that our loved ones have a peaceful and visually pleasing final resting place” said King.

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