The PNCR says government has severely neglected Leguan Island and residents are plagued by unemployment, substandard sea defences, deteriorating roads and discrimination in irrigation assistance.
In a press release the party said the neglect was made clear during a visit to the Essequibo island on April 25 when chairman and attorney-at-law Bishwaishwar “Cammie” Ramsaroop and a team including Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green, PNCR Central Executive Committee member Llewellyn John, party stalwart and former MP Idris Deen, Adel Lilly, GYSM’s Tamika Todd and Leguan NDC representatives Shaw and Gordon along with Best/Klein/Pouderoyen NDC representative Bowman met with residents.
Ramsaroop said he was saddened after his encounter with residents who spoke of their hardships and the hopelessness they and their children feel because of severe daily challenges. The Chair-man said residents face unemployment or underemployment due to government neglect.
He said too residents suffer losses amounting to billions of dollars due to the “Administration’s carelessness and disrespect” for residents and taxpayers as they have failed to involve them in the monitoring and controlling of sea-defence projects though they have been severely affected and are never given compensation.
According to the release, residents said they believed that the PNC administration would have been able to avert the devastation in the rice industry and woulsd have planned to minimise damage caused by El Nino. Ramsaroop also supported residents’ calls for government to immediately rehabilitate the rapidly deteriorating roads, especially as the rainy season is imminent. He said too the X-ray unit that had been commissioned two years ago at the hospital has never been functional, “yet another example of Government white elephants and mismanagement.”