Dear Editor,
Cornelia Ida on the West Coast of Demerara is soon to have two ‘barber’ shops next to each other. As I write now at around 8 pm on Sunday night, July 13, a number of men are busy casting the foundation of what is soon to be the second one, on government reserve along the access road into the north housing scheme. The owner claims to have the permission of both the NDC and RDC chairmen. With such powerful backing who dares to intervene?
The owner of this one was told to remove from the public road reserve next to the primary school where he, until a few hours ago, was already established. Apart from barbering it was known for loud noise and music from parked vehicles. The owner proudly displayed a refrigerator in his establishment well stocked with a variety of beers, local and imported.
Two families next door, one consisting of an elderly couple where the woman has been ailing for some time and the other having small children, have been subjected to a constant barrage of indecent language, often late into the night.
The second ‘barber’ shop built along the same access road on government reserve, again it is claimed, with the permission of the NDC and RDC, also engages in a lot more than ‘barbering.’ It too is noted for loud noise, music, partying and drinking.
A further annoyance is that built as it is along the already narrow access road there is always a traffic problem. One would have to wait on the sweet will of the ‘customers’ who happen to be the same set of people coming day after day to have their hair cut to pull their vehicles in the corner in order to get by.
Is it not illegal to set up structures along the roadside on state reserve? In this case did the two chairmen give their permission to have the structures built? And, if not why haven’t they done something? Surely, they must know what is going on. Can there not be a halt to this lawlessness?
Yours faithfully,
Narendra Sukhdev
Editor’s note
We sent a copy of this letter to Chairman of the Regional Democratic Coun-cil, Region 3, Mr Julius Faeber, for any comments he may have wished to make and received the following response from Mr Jaidev N Dudhnath, Infor-mation Officer:
“Thanks for affording us a response to the letter submitted by one Narendra Sukhdev.
“Please be advised of the following:
a. The Regional Demo-cratic Council (RDC) has begun an exercise to remove all illegal structures on the main highway.
b. The regional Demo-cratic Council does not condone illegal business.
c. The Regional Demo-cratic Council did not give permission for the setting up of any barber shop in Cornelia Ida.
d. The main roads fall under the purview of the Regional Executive Officer; the internal roads are under the purview of the Neigh-bourhood Democratic Council.
“We are aware of the nuisance created by illegal structures and in this regard we do not compromise our position of ‘no illegal structures.’
“With regard to the sale of alcoholic beverages, this matter will be investigated and appropriate action will follow.”
