“All I want is betterment for my children and grandchildren,” 82-year-old Mahdia resident Edris Calder says, speaking about a campaign of neglect and blatant disrespect she said that residents endured under the PPP/C administration.
Speaking to Stabroek News a week before the general elections, Calder said she moved to the mining area when she was eight years old accompanied by her parents who sought a better livelihood with plans to establish careers in mining and farming. They were taken there by trucks, she said, noting that those early days were far better compared to now. Even as a child, the woman said, she could easily have met her basic needs as items were far cheaper and there was an easy flow of cash.
I coulda run to the shop and buy anything because I coulda go and get piece gold and sell … and get money,” she said, adding that her two mining grants were given to ‘bigger fishes’ whom she believes paid a handsome sum to obtain them. According to Calder, these arrangements leave persons in dire straits as gold is effectively being taken from residents and given to outsiders who don’t even offer employment to the community’s youths, but take the precious metal to the city to sell. This results in some families taking children out of schools to find jobs to help support younger siblings.
Calder who only received a primary education noted that there is a dearth of trained teachers at Mahdia. She said the poor accommodations provided for a Head teacher saw her sleeping on a couch, among other indignities, and drove the woman from the area. Also, no financial aid is provided to needy families, even though some cannot even afford to provide breakfast for their children. Regional Democratic Councillor, Mohamed Naiem Gafoor backed up Calder’s claims noting that the entire community is challenged to make their livelihoods.
Calder said the community used to benefit from a lemonade factory which manufactured and sold the products right there, while the roads were always maintained. The road has now deteriorated and although pipelines were installed and potable water provided, the service has been disrupted.
“We fetch pipelines pon we shoulder and do self-help wok fu install the pipelines and now them go tell we fu go and use the creek water,” Calder said, adding that the Regional Executive Officer ignored their concerns.
Calder who was now joined by a group of other women, said they have observed that a man draws water from the same pipelines and drives around the community selling a tank of water for $7,000, which persons purchase during the dry season as they have no other option. She also complained about her soaring electricity bill which ranges between $30,000 and $39,000 per month though she only has a freezer and two energy saving bulbs which are turned off after 8pm.
Calder said she is passionate about advocating for betterment for her community and often participates in protest action for better health care, security and education.
