NDC chairman in Lethem Terrence Boston is calling for a massive infusion of funds, engineering skills and machinery to put necessary infrastructure in place so the border town would be geared for the completion of the Takutu bridge linking the neighbourhood with Brazil.
Boston, who is the chairman of the Ireng/Sawariwau Neighbourhood Democratic Council of Lethem in Region Nine, said in a recent press statement that the upgraded infrastructure is “necessary to accommodate the kind of foreseeable development which is soon to take place in the area.”
Already the streets of Lethem are busy on a daily basis with Brazilian cars and trucks, Boston observed.
However, he pointed out that there is need for better roads in Lethem since in their present condition with a laterite surface they are a dust nuisance and a daily health hazard for the community.
These roads should be asphalted with established carriageways along with parapets and side drains to take off rainfall. The absence of side drains alongside the roads in Lethem has led to deterioration during heavy rainfall as a result of erosion, yet millions of dollars are being spent annually to maintain these roads, Boston said.
Stabroek News recently carried a report about residents of Lethem expressing concerns that the area was not in readiness to take advantage of the bridge being in place.
Valuation exercise
Meanwhile, the council had done a valuation exercise for rating purposes some years ago in the neighbourhood, but up to now the documents submitted have not been approved to levy taxes which could assist the council to meet some of its operating costs and provide services to the communities.
Boston said that while the NDC continues to be grateful for the annual $3M subvention from central government, which is used for developmental activities in the neighbourhood, the sum is inadequate to provide the many needed developmental programmes in the area.
There is also need for a fire station in the area, Boston said.
He noted that there are about 1,000 houses in Lethem and environs, two public schools, a number of hotels, gas stations and shops, two public hospitals and other public places and offices, telecommunication and airport facilities and a market, among other facilities in the area.
Boston said the NDC had written the Minister of Home Affairs requesting a fire station some time ago but to date no response has been received.
Drainage
In addition, Lethem has a drainage problem. The area has a natural drainage system but this has been compromised by a rather ad hoc laying out of residential and commercial lots, coupled with the disjointed manner in which lands are being distributed. In the area the outfall of the drainage system is also being utilized for residential and commercial purposes.
Boston said that the NDC has been raising these issues with the authorities over the years but there has been no redress so far to these concerns.
Another issue troubling the NDC, Boston said, is waste disposal in the neighbourhood.
The NDC chairman explained that the council was providing this service on a weekly basis using a tractor and trailer but had experienced some difficulties with the shortage of staff in the latter part of last year.
Since then, there has been a continuous build-up of garbage in Lethem, most of which is generated from commercial activities.
Most of the business places, the release observed, have not been disposing of their garbage in a proper manner although the NDC has an area set aside outside Lethem for this purpose. Meantime, waste is being dumped indiscriminately in the area.
Meantime, the NDC along with environmental health officer Juanita Williams has been speaking with members of the business community and the President of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Daniel Gajie on this issue.
Boston also said that in recent times a few business places in Lethem have been selling expired food items to unsuspecting customers. However, the environmental health officer reported that because she had instructed some of these unscrupulous business owners to dispose of these items she has been threatened by them.
The NDC plans to write the Ministry of Health on these and other matters related to environmental issues in Lethem, Boston added.
Meanwhile, the NDC has announced the completion of all its planned development projects last year. Boston made this announcement at the first statutory meeting of the council held this month at the NDC office in Lethem.
And recapping the projects completed by the council before December 2007, Boston said roads in Phase 1 and 11 Lethem were upgraded, as well as the annual weeding exercises at public open spaces, community grounds, road parapets and alleyways in Lethem and its environs Culvert City and Tabatinga, while repairs were carried out to the fence of the Lethem Community Centre ground.
Chairman Boston also said that the NDC constructed a 1,800 sq. ft. public library and resource centre at Lethem.
This project, he said, which cost $9M was made possible through funding from the Guyana Micro Project Programme and assistance from the community.
The other projects undertaken last year were done through the annual $3M subvention from central government to the NDC for development assistance.
