Interviews and photos by Shabna Ullah

This week on What the People Say we asked residents of Berbice to comment on what they are hoping for in the New Year. Here are their responses:

Rufus Fraser, minibus driver

‘For the New Year I am hoping for improvements in many areas especially for proper water supply. My mother lives at D’ Edward Village and since the year started she did not get any water. It is also my hope to see some people who do not have their homes as yet, get their land and start building. Most of all I would like everyone to live as one and in unity.’

Mahadeo Megnauth, security guard

‘I am not well right now and my biggest hope for the New Year is to get back my health and strength. I hope that I would be able to work harder to provide more for my family. I also plan to extend my house so that my family would be happy. The street where I live is in a bad condition and I hope that it is fixed in the New Year.’

Marva Mc Calmont, housewife

‘Well, I am hoping for the best in the New Year for myself and everyone in the entire Berbice, especially the young people. Right now a lot of young people are without jobs. They finished school and they have nothing to do. I just hope the president can provide jobs for them and give them an opportunity to learn a trade. Youths can get involved in trouble if they are not occupied. I would prefer if the president reopens the National Service and the New Opportunity Corps.

Young people would be able to go there and learn a trade and earn an income.’

Sandra Baldeo, social worker

‘I am hoping for peace, love and harmony to prevail in this country. I would like to see the young people take their education seriously and that jobs would be there for them. I also hope that the public servants would be honest with accountability and that the politicians have God in them and are fair as they execute their duties.’

Vishal Rambarran, self-employed

`This year I am hoping to get through with a piece of land so that I can build a house for my family. Right now I am living in a rented house and I would be able to save all that rent if I own my own home.

I did not apply for the land as yet because I was told that I would have to get my two daughters’ birth certificates and produce them in order to qualify. Now that I have all the documents in order I hope that the processing of the application does not take too long.’
Charles Roberts, Assistant Superinten-dant, NA Town Constabulary

`I hope that in the New Year good sense would prevail among persons who are vending on the roadways and parapets around the town [New Amsterdam]. It is expected that citizens adhere to the rules and regulations as mandated by the Municipal and District Council Act, Chapter 28:01. We would be having frequent exercises to ensure that illegal vending does not take place. My hopes and aspirations are that the constabulary would grow from strength to strength with the cooperation of citizens. I also hope to see a cleaner town. There are persons who litter; they throw things out of windows of vehicles or get junkies to dump garbage all over when they can come in to the council and make arrangements to have their garbage collected. When the rainy weather steps in then we see the importance of not dumping illegally. Then the council would be blamed for not taking care of the garbage and more than likely the persons who cast the blame are the ones who contribute to those acts.’

James France, teacher

‘The New Year looks very promising and I hope to achieve some of my goals. I am also looking forward to favourable climate in our country and economic growth and that our hydro project can come on stream. I hope too that we can foster closer bilateral trade relations with neighbouring countries. I also look forward to crime reduction, less accidents on the roadways and a reduced mortality rate as well as for all Guyanese to develop a more positive attitude.’
Champa Bishamber, businesswoman

‘I hope for the country to get better but most of all I would like the water supply at Fyrish to improve. The water pressure is very low and the water is red. The road is also in a bad state with lots of potholes and when it rains the street is very messy. I also hope that the government can do something about the ‘bottom house’ rum shops that are all over in the area. I have a licensed beer garden but I am having unfair competition from these illegal businesses. They are getting more sales because they do not have overhead expenses and can afford to sell cheaper. I had planned to close my business down but I am hoping that this year things would improve.’

Shanta Dasrat, farmer/housewife

‘I live at Yakusari, Black Bush Polder and my hope is that this year the main road would be repaired. I have three children going to the Mibicuri Secondary School and because of the condition of the road they have to leave home at 6:30 am. They have to ride their bicycles up to Johanna and then they would join the buses from there to take them to school. The buses don’t go to that area because of the state of the road and because only a few children would travel to the secondary school. In the rainy weather you can hardly see the road. I am thankful though, that we are benefitting from proper water and electricity supply in the area.’

Lavern Lewis, overseas-based Guyanese

`For the New Year I wish the violence and crime would stop and that the country would get better in development. I also hope that everyone could unite as one and not fight against each other. I wish that Guyana would stay as beautiful as it is and that persons would stop littering and throwing garbage out of the windows of vehicles. This is not just an eyesore but it can cause accidents.’