Interviews and photos by Shabna Ullah
This week we asked persons: If you had one concern to raise with the president what would it be? Here are their responses.
Joan James, retired head teacher,
`My concern is about the emancipation celebration at Hopetown, West Berbice. The event which starts on the evening of July 31 would normally go through the whole night and then we would continue very early the next morning with the road tramp. But last year the police stopped the celebration at midnight and told us that we have to get off the road. If we want to re-enact the emancipation then we should start on the eve and be allowed to carry through with it as our forefathers did. Soiree is a whole night affair and people come from all over to celebrate in Hopetown and they have nowhere to stay. We pay for the police protection and I wish if the president can direct the police to give permission for the licences to be for the entire night.’
Nafeeza Mohamed, housewife,
`I am concerned about the number of children in the West Demerara area that do not attend school. A lot of them can be seen doing errands during school hours and I think the president should send persons around to check on these children. Most of them who attend the Vreed-en-Hoop school are saying that a lot of lawlessness goes on there and that is why they have dropped out. But without an education they would not have proper jobs and that is why most of them end up stealing to survive.’
Nadir Baksh, owner of snackette,
`I have two concerns that I would like to raise. Firstly the road in Shieldstown [West Berbice] is in a very bad state. It was rehabilitated some time back but there is no maintenance and it has deteriorated again. I think that the president should see to it that it is looked after early before it gets worse. The other thing is that for a long time now the water pressure is very low and residents have to pump water to get to use. But that is very costly and then again not everyone is fortunate to have a pump. A report was made to the Guyana Water Inc. office at Fort Wellington and they promised to come but we have not seen them as yet.’
Krishendat Maiku, Chairman of Rosignol Fisherman’s Co-op,
‘As a fisherman, the concern that I want to raise with the president is about the piracy that is affecting us badly. Piracy has been going on for too long and I think it is about time something is done to stop it urgently. Sometimes the response from the coast guard is very slow. Most times the pirates take away the engines and other items and leave the fishermen to drift. By the time they report it and the coast guards go out the pirates have already escaped. It is very hard to catch them in the act. Through the intervention of the Ministers of Agriculture and Home Affairs the commissioner of police approved five gun licences to the co-op but only those fishermen are allowed to take them out at sea. I also feel that there should be more communication among the police, the government and the authorities in Suriname. For instance when piracy is reported there should be fast contact with Suriname. I am happy that Suriname police have arrested a few pirates but there must be strict penalties. When they are sent on bail they go out and rob the fishermen again.’
Yesoda Latchman, owner of fishing boat,
`Since I started this business I am always having problems with piracy and every time they beat up my workers and take away engines and other items. Sunday gone three pirates attacked my five workers and beat them severely. This time the robbery was bigger because they took away my boat with engine, a drum of gasoline, and two water barrels. They dump the workers in a smaller boat and another fishing boat rescued them and bring them in to shore. Then the pirates also gone with the first aid kit, life ‘rings,’ fire extinguisher that we have to buy before we get licences and they are very costly. How much time we would keep buying those things? And then the licence is expensive as well. This is not easy what we are facing and I wish if the president can look into it fast. My boat has been abandoned on the shores and I have to spend extra money to retrieve it.’
Sukhdeo Persaud, hire car driver,
`I am living at Blairmont Squatting Area for the past 18 years and up to now some of us cannot get through with the lots. We raised the issue with the former housing minister and he promised us that we would get through but up to now we are still waiting. The bad thing is that he did not put it in writing. We cannot have lights in the squatting area but we sent our children to school and they have done well. Some have become nurses and teachers but they are still living in darkness. A new housing scheme was opened with 156 houses but only about 10% of those residents got lots. We also have an issue of children dropping out of secondary school at an early age; mostly because of poverty. I wish if the president can see that a centre is established where these children can still be educated and learn different skills especially with computers.’
Warren Skeele, carpenter,
`I am concerned that the sugar estate has spent so much money on a pump that is pumping water from the canefields into the people’s yards at Bath Settlement. What they should do is pump in the river and put some kokers to prevent the water from going into the yards. In case of emergency they can use the same pump to get the water out of the residents’ yards.’
Claris Ross, vendor,
`The concern I would raise with the president is about the teachers because I am closely connected to persons in the profession. I think they are working under poor conditions and their salary is too small. The government should give them more allowances and provide them with house lots because many of them do not want to leave this country. I also think that the criteria for duty-free concessions on vehicles need to be revised because only a narrow margin is benefiting. I noticed that some deputy head teachers work for over 30 years and they are not entitled to duty free. Another thing is that students were only given books in September and they did not get again. The government also needs to review the decision to take the teachers off the job at age 55 because some teachers can work for another 10 years. Even when they come off they still have to wait until they are 60 to get NIS and some teachers die without getting the benefits.’
Joy Gonsalves, educator,
`My concern is that children should stop roaming the streets and market places during school hours. Child labour is prevalent at the market places and the country as a whole. Very small children can also be seen begging. I think parents need to pay more attention to their children’s education – it is a priority. Education builds a nation. I want to see more welfare officers in the community doing their duties and more regular checks must be made at the schools. Follow-up sessions must also be done. There should also be more job opportunities for young people; I have three nieces who graduated from university and they are not having job satisfaction.’
Taro Somwara, market vendor,
`I am living at Number 2 Village (WCB) and the area does not have street lights and is very dark. We were told that we have to buy the lights if we need them. The policing group in the area decided to raise funds to buy the street lights but now we are hearing that they would have to maintain it and pay the bills every month. This is not fair and I wish if the president can look into it. The streets are also in a bad state and the authorities should not wait until they go so bad before they fix them because they would end up spending more money.’