Public Works Minister Robeson Benn says that in spite of the criticisms of his ministry’s recent demolition campaign, it will not be deterred from clearing government reserves adding that there are “no untouchables” and “no sacred cows”.
Speaking at a press conference held at his office yesterday afternoon, Benn said “there seems to be an orchestrated campaign to bring into disrepute the ministry’s efforts as mandated by the cabinet, to clear the government/state reserves, which have been encroached over the years by various businesses particularly [and] in some cases small vendors and squatters.”
A letter bearing the signature of Mohamed I. Ally, was published in yesterday’s edition of the Stabroek News and criticised the actions of Minister Benn, accusing him of selectively demolishing properties. Ally said that the actions of the Minister appeared to be ethnically and politically biased.
Benn yesterday said that suggestions that these activities are “ethnically driven” and based on “political bias” are completely baseless. He said that the Roads Act gives his Ministry the powers to remove structures which prove to be encumbrances on the road reserves. He pointed out that the Ministry had an interest not only in relation to public roads but side streets where congestion is created. These include situations where people stop in an unsafe manner and where children run out to buy items, Benn noted.
According to the Minister, there were people who seemed to have “a vested interest in stealing government property in the NDCs, along road reserves, along the drainage and irrigation networks.” He said that many of these persons were making profits out of this and that many of them were not paying taxes. The Minister stated that the Ministry had notified several of these entities and were about to act on these warnings.
When asked to respond to specific allegations raised by Ally in his letter, Benn obliged. Ally, in his letter, had argued that at the Mon Repos market there had been selected moving of some venders even as others continued their trade.
In response, Benn said that he did not know about any specific engagement with the residents of Mon Repos. Benn stated that the government had spent several million dollars through the Local Government Ministry to establish a tarmac for these vendors. Government took its reserve, constructed a tarmac and organized it to ensure easier access to the market and safer parking for customers, the Minister noted. He said that he visited the areas last year, and saw that the market had been properly organised with “meat sellers in one place groceries, fruits and vegetables in another and haberdasheries in another.” Benn said that it was given to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to manage and that there have been problems. According to him, there have been some recalcitrant persons who do not participate in this arrangement and others who have breached all regulations. He said that officials had gone back to the area to help bring a resolution to the problem.
In relation to the M&M location at the Demerara Harbour Bridge, Benn stated that as far as he is aware, the entire area taken up by the owners of this property on the East Bank are places that they lawfully acquired. He also said that the area which is occupied by the snackette was not sold to the owners by the Ministry of Public Works. The Minister, however, said that there were ongoing issues with the establishment.
According to him, the problem at the Harbour Bridge location is the parking in the areas in front of the establishment and when these patrons also take over the pavement. He said that police have been deployed there to try to curb the problem.
In relation to the Plaisance Embankment, he said that notices had been served to these persons who have encroached on the embankment and the Ministry will eventually send its demolition team there to “get to them” He said that the main problem in this area was where the minibus park is located. There was a plan to relocate vendors along there to an area west of the market on the reserve area but for various reasons this plan has not come to fruition, the Minister noted. He singled out the impediments caused by the beer garden and a barber shop.
Benn also said that contrary to what Ally was saying, the Ministry had done work along the Buxton Embankment and that there had been significant improvements in this area.
Meanwhile, at the entrance to the Diamond Housing Scheme, the Ministry is trying to enforce some order there and said that soon (within weeks) traffic lights will be in place.
Benn said that the Ministry will be intensifying its demolition efforts in the upcoming weeks. When quizzed as to how much of these jobs have been completed, Benn said that less then ten percent have been completed. He also pointed out that in some instances after persons or structures are removed persons returned. The Minister also said that his ministry is seeking to enhance the ability of the demolition teams by providing more equipment.
Benn emphasised that the “campaign is done to the benefit of the travelling public and road users.” He said that the intention is to improve road safety. He also said that government attempted to provide solutions in many cases so as not to upset people’s social circumstances and livelihoods.
Meanwhile, the Minister pointed out that his Ministry has moved to improve road lighting on the East Bank and on the East Coast. He said that the Ministry was now moving to improve lighting on the West Coast of Demerara, parts of Essequibo and parts of West Bank of Demerara . He said that they were targeting areas with a high traffic population.
He noted that since the Ministry began its demolition exercises some years ago there “have been improvements on the East Bank, in Georgetown and on the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway.