Taking away from our children

Sep 01, 2026 Letters

Dear Editor,

Schools reopened on Monday, 31st August, and pupils of the nursery school in my neighbourhood were greeted with a reduced educational environment. This is simply because the Beterverwagting / Triumph NDC made a decision that is TAKING AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN.

In a letter which the Kaieteur News published on Friday August 7 2026, I asked the question, “Am I a second-class citizen in my own community”. Since then, the project to erect the new fence has progressed unhindered, though many have been making comments placing me in a seemingly fortunate or unfortunate position. From indicators on the ground, it is assumed that the NDC decided to extend the drainage trench to align its centre line to the current structure north of Jardim Street. The intent is to link the current Jardim Street trench with the North South drain on Surat Drive. Effectively what the NDC intends is to redesign the Drainage Network of the community, and in doing so establish an unnecessary loop. The NDC’s rationale for redesigning the drainage system is because the Road and Drainage works currently being executed by the Ministry of Works along Republic Drive (BV/Triumph main road) has disrupted the community’s drainage, which everyone knows is a temporary condition.

Yet, the NDC have decided to over lay permanent change to the Drainage Network because they are confronted with a temporary problem. The neighbourhood suffered a period of prolong flooding between December and June because of the current road and drainage works being executed by the Ministry of Public Works. I am sure had they consulted with the Ministry of Public Works systems for relief could have been implemented as necessary for the duration of the project.

Instead, they chose the option to SPEND BIG. In this instance, they decided to remove approximately 400 feet of fencing which from all appearances were not necessary, inclusive of a gate. An inspection of the portion of fence on the North and East of the property would reveal a sturdy fence far removed from one to be replaced. The portion of fence that was removed from the West and South of the compound was erected at the same time as the portion that remained.

To build 120 feet of concrete trench, which I remind is not a necessary structure. Remove approximately 3000 sq. ft. of playing area from children. The monies allotted to the removal of a strong fence, build another fence, landscape the compound and construct a concrete trench could have been put to better within our community. This project certainly falls within the category of ‘MONEY FOR THE BOYS & GIRLS.’

Let us assume that the proposed drainage trench did pass the test of a necessary structure. Couldn’t it have been a covered structure so as not to diminish the play area of the children? Most of the commenters are of the view that the reduction of the play area available to the pupils is unconscionable. Their comments seem to suggest that the NDC is a visionless bunch that plans without a focus of the developmental needs of our children. It is clear they chose to insult the engineers from the Roads Division of the Ministry of Public Works with whom they should have a working relationship relative to the impacts of the Road and Drainage works being executed in the community. Instead of turning to the engineers for assistance, these village fathers decided that they should redesign our drainage network; the result of which in my view would simply be an attempt to spend monies which could have been better used.

Notwithstanding the gross misuse of funds, the most egregious result of all is the taking away of playing space from the pupils of the Triumph Nursery School. It is known that all work and no play make Jack a dull boy.

The literature on the need for physical activities relative to child growth is boundless, within these writings are research results on the mental and cognitive benefits derived from such behaviours. Yet our Council on which sits persons with background in education chose to reduce the compound of the Triumph Nursery School so as to create space which would eventually become parking space for a

Chinese Supermarket.

Yours truly,

Elton McRae

Resident of Triumph Village

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