14 E’bo burial grounds cleared of vegetation

Sep 23, 2014 News

Fourteen burial grounds in Region Two, including La Belle Alliance- which is home to

A completed section of the La Belle Alliance Burial Ground

Damon Cross- were recently cleared of overgrown vegetation.
The clearing exercises were executed as part of Government’s Community Infrastructure Improvement Project (CIIP), which is being implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Water, a statement from that body said yesterday. The CIIP aims at improving access and aesthetics in communities across the country while fostering greater community cohesion.
“CIIP will directly benefit residents in the 65 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and target townships while creating employment for more than 1200 persons. Activities under this programme include weeding parapets, cleaning residential drains, and clearing cemetery and crematorium grounds.
Works have commenced in several regions and the Ministry said it is currently preparing to roll out the programme in other areas. The first areas of focus across the country is improving the grounds of cemeteries and clearing residential drains which are overgrown with vegetation.
“Clearing exercises commenced in all NDCs and the Anna Regina Township in Region Two on September 1. Some of the burial grounds were not cleared for decades and the grounds were inaccessible and unsafe. For instance, the historical La Belle Alliance Burial Ground was not cleared in about four decades.”
The 17 labourers who worked to clear this ground were challenged by stubborn overgrown vegetation, Africanized bee hives and dangerous snakes that converted the sappy areas into their homes, the Ministry said.
According to Basil Persaud, Regional Community Enhancement Officer, clearing of the almost 4,000 feet long burial ground is half way completed. “Clearing of this section came to an abrupt halt because workers encountered bee hives.”
He noted that the Ministry is currently organizing bee experts to remove the hives since the safety of the workers and visitors are a top priority.
Other burial grounds that benefited from improvements include Charity, Better Hope, Andrews, Elisa, Three Friends Walton Hall, Cotton Field, Queenstown, Habadeen/ Zorg-en-Lygt, and Golden Fleece.

Community Enhancement Workers clearing vegetation in a burial ground in Region One.

As a result of works by the Ministry, the Habadeen/Zorg-en-Lygt Burial Ground is now in top condition. Almost 40 labourers were involved there.
Clearing of the Three Friends Walton Hall Burial Ground took three days and was done by 52 workers. “This site is approximately150 square feet and was not cleared in decades. Its improvement has now enhanced the physical landscape of the community.”
Another burial ground that was in a deplorable condition and similar to others and not cleared in decades is Elisa.
Project Coordinator, Karen Roopchand, assured that continuity of similar exercises is a must. She also noted that several other initiatives are planned under the project which will contribute towards cleaner, healthier and safer communities across the length and breadth of the country.