Too little, too late for North West Region

Mar 22, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
The Minister of Local Government did quite a good job in preparing the Report Card on all the works completed in Region 1. According to Whittaker (Stab. News 18/01), fifty seven villages benefited from $189M on development projects including Health facilities ‘for the first time’. Not so fast Mr. Whittaker. Pre 1992, villages had Health Huts with Community Health Workers well trained by GAHEF at Liliendaal on the East Coast Demerara. And, for Minister’s information, with the claimed infrastructure, millions are still spent to medivac patients to the city.
Whittaker then goes on to mention some of the projects – aquaculture project, timber project, poultry project. Incidentally, many of these ‘projects’ are tucked away in communities which are far away from the eyes of the observers and the auditors e.g. Manawarin – Moruca River, Waikarebi – Barama River, Three Brothers – Waini River, Hobodeia – Aruka River. No one would travel the distances to check so they would have to accept. Are we expected to vote on projects which (according to Minister) our tax dollars were spent on and not even some pictorial evidence? This is the digital age.
Are the aquaculture projects the same as the one in Tobago Hill? Even the hassars did not approve of that project and they migrated.
While the Report Card stops at these outlying villages, the Minister failed to say what is the status of the Kumaka Waterfront project (Mabaruma) on which millions have been purportedly expended and the area remains a slush creek after years. Whatever happened to the material to fence the Neighbourhood Office in Mabaruma? Who pays for the rental of a vehicle being used by an Education Official to drive around campaigning for the PPP?
Minister turned up as Santa Claus, handing out mini buses to small communities where the roads have not been maintained and so there is the appearance of little creeks to drive through. Could these vehicles stand up to this? No Minister Whittaker. Even the heavy duty trucks get stuck and relatively submerged.
The team comprising the madam who runs the NDC for the PPP was gallantly strutting around talking about the many developments just to fool those poor people.
Our people have grown to expect the usual set of gifts every five years after which there comes a lull in attention. Why not do the roads then give buses?
How do you expect Region 1 to vote after 22 years and not even a regular North West Steamer service (which was promised, as a matter two boats) has been put in place to alleviate the suffering of the same voters and their families on the MV Kimbia. You expect these people to love the PPP more than themselves and vote for some buses to come in five years time?
A last bit on the eyepass for the Amerindians – why institute Community Development Councils parallel to the Village Councils thereby removing the authority of the Village Leaders?
We are sorry to inform you Minister Whittaker, we have cross checked your claims and are hereby giving you a Grade ZZZ on development in the North West Region. We want to move forward and your Government cannot take us there. You had twenty odd years and all we see if the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. Tired of the trying to see the ‘Emperor’s New Clothes’ that you are showing to us.
Cedric Jones

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Too little, too late for North West Region

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