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Former Toshao retracts call for separation from Santa Rosa

Dec 06, 2015 News

Former Toshao of Santa Rosa, Basil Cornelius, came under heavy scrutiny Wednesday last after he retracted his call for his community, Karaburi, to no longer be a satellite community of Santa Rosa, Moruca, Region One.
At a meeting at the Santa Rosa Guesthouse where several Government officials attached to the Indigenous Affairs and the Communities Ministry, met and interacted with residents, Cornelius said that his call for separation was because of the council’s move to have satellite communities incorporated in Santa Rosa.
He also explained that the people of Karaburi were being excluded from meetings and decision making processes.
However, Cornelius retracted his call for separation, “The people decided to remain under Santa Rosa but our lands be excluded and remains with the Karaburi people”
According to some councillors at the meeting, Cornelius has a personal vendetta to cause confusion amongst the new Village Council. The reason for this move, one councillor explained, was because of Cornelius being replaced by the current Toshao, Sherwin Abrams.
Abrams said that it was after the replacement that problems began to occur. These included issues of possession and control of a motor vehicle. Abrams accused the former Toshao of behaving like an overlord, pointing out that Cornelius’ call for separation was not made on behalf of the people of Karaburi. The retraction was a result of the people finding out, he added.
Present at the meeting was Attorney-at-Law attached to the Indigenous Affairs Ministry, David James, who told Indigenous Affairs Minister, Sydney Allicock, that he sees no problem with Karaburi keeping their land – which belongs to the state – who for the past 50 plus years, has made no advance to utilise it.
Abrams yesterday alleged that Cornelius while serving as Toshao misused funds earmarked for a GWI expansion project.
It was reported that before the May, 11 General Elections, $850,000 was given to the former council to carry out a GWI extension project which was estimated to benefit some 500 villagers of Rincon, a satellite community of Santa Rosa. However, after a new council took over, only a $140,000 was surrendered by Cornelius.
“The former Toshao, Cornelius turned in $140,000 and he told us (the Council) that the rest of the money was used to renovate a stage… another $120,000 was given to transport 172, four-inch pipes that were pledged to us by GWI. Nearly half of that number is missing which is $1M in pipes unaccounted for…” Abrams said.
Efforts to contact Cornelius pertaining to this issue, were futile.
A resident of Moruca, John Torres, also had his theory of where the money might have gone.
“I was told by a regional official that the money was used to renovate a stage that two political parties utilised to conduct their rallies, the PPP and the APNU…
“When the APNU rally was held, we volunteered to weed and clean the surroundings…when the PPP held their rally, they had drums, cups, logos and banners” he said.
When asked if the PPP/C had arrived in Moruca with any of these “campaign equipment”, he said that all the drums and logos were made “right in Moruca”.

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