Dear Editor,
Quite a lot of publicity has been given in the past to the distribution of house lots for the construction of homes for citizens, some in need, whether they own homes at present or not. A number of those recipients may be in a financial position to subtlety invest in owning a building in various parts of the country. My main concern, however, is what those housing areas could become in the years ahead. Will these be worthwhile communities nurturing youths who will eventually grow up in these areas to take their worthwhile place in society, or will they become ghettos which cater to the drug lords?
One would think that publicity would be given in those multi-ethnic developing areas to the reservation of lands for churches and cemeteries, social and recreational amenities, the size of which would be determined by the Statistical Bureau based on an estimated population growth rate in the not too distant future.
Given the news coverage which I learnt was given to the recent Guyana Music Festival I would think that the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport with his varying backgrounds which would include an appreciation of the performing arts, would have a major input into the plans for any new housing development in Guyana. He would have of necessity a standing committee on culture, youth and sport to advise him in regard to identifying dedicated areas for sporting facilities in newly developing communities. Failure to address this matter could have youths and adults using the streets as football and cricket fields, causing an eventual confrontation with the rightful users of the streets as to who has the right to the turfs.
It is defeatist in grooming our youths to have them excited by the Main Street Lime, Chutney gyrations, Mashramani and a host of Town Days accompanied by the attractions of bacchanalia and debauchery and not entertainment which has some suavity and serenity. Could we not have a staging of Porgy and Bess?
Editor, one would think that in publicizing new house-lot communities, reference would be made to the provision of space for football, cricket, tennis courts, mini-golf courses, centres for the performing arts, the arrangement for streets whereby in the interest of security gated communities could be provided in the future.
Yours faithfully,
Aubrey Alexander
