Dear Editor,
I can’t understand it, it is either the key people with responsibility for the affairs of the community are lackadaisical, incompetent or not allowed to perform. Whose responsibility is it to observe, locate, report, mend before it is too late and have the necessary work done? Why should there be a presidential intervention to have simple things that were left unattended sorted out as was the case with the last Cabinet outreach? Some of the issues attended to, to my mind were simply no-brainers that should have been within the scope of the top functionaries, allowing for more serious, difficult and complex matters to be dealt with by the President and his ministers. What is the function of the RDC, IMC their councillors, government reps and officers? Don’t they see anything in this community that is totally wrong and objectionable? Why can’t they be open, non-partisan and speak up on matters of right/wrong? Why can’t the PNC, PPP and AFC representatives be forthright and exemplary? Why aren’t they seeing anything anywhere beyond their immediate interest, no matter how obviously wrong? They are the people who are primarily responsible for overseeing the affairs of this community. Can’t they do something more tangible for the stipend they are receiving? Are they really serving a purpose? There are some things that just can’t be glossed over.
Listen here, by the time the rains are over, this town could be flooded out – the flooding in this community has nothing to do with the melting ice caps somewhere in the north. However much it rains, five minutes or five hours, the drains and streets almost everywhere are flooded. With all the work on drains being done, it seemed to have no positive effect when it rains; obviously something is off target.
The roundabout by Lichas and the library is the latest flooding attraction; at the slightest drizzle, a thimblefull, it becomes waterlogged. This nicely situated roundabout has been in existence for quite a long time, and never encountered any flooding problem for years, so obviously somewhere is blocked up! The water now is spreading with every downpour; do we need to contract Dutch engineers to correct it? But I’m not sure if any councillor has observed it. Walk up a few yards opposite the McKenzie High School and to the east of Lichas and see the large cluster of jamoon trees that have been allowed to bloom under the watchful eyes of all and sundry; it’s like a little jungle that has taken over what was to be a fenced playfield, but no key personnel in the community or relevant authority has observed it, not a single councillor! Will President Jagdeo have to come for this to be cleared? Walk around by the Senior Supervisors Club and see the McKenzie Sports Club fence some ten feet high with lush green vegetation that has almost completely shrouded it; also a half-grown palm tree well rooted in the drain, and these are only two of many such places. For a classical spectacle of neglect, take a walk through Damon Avenue from end to end and tell me if you can figure it out. I guess we are playing our part in deforestation. But no councillor has seen them.
Gutters are still dug out and stuff left on the side of the road only to be back in the drains within a few days. No one knows who, or if there is any authority that is responsible for putting lights on the roads; there are so many dark and dangerous areas that people are scared of at nights –perfect hideaways for rogue elements that lie in wait to commit their acts. Residents who need to have light installed on a post which happens to be near their house have to buy the bulb and pay to have it installed, I was told. 1 will not labour on the state of our roads. The worst of all those are in the Kara Kara housing scheme, which were once the widest and among the best. They are now in a sick condition, except to say it is high time the road leading to the burial ground be done in a proper way so that the dead making the last journey to their final resting place can have their close relatives, loved ones and friends accompany them without stress.
They can then avoid that long walk to the cemetery because buses and other vehicles are reluctant to venture on the road because of its condition, especially when it rains. This is so unfair and disgusting; why can’t this road be done once and for all? But no key personnel have seen it. Must the President intervene to make this possible?
From the many complaints I keep hearing our hospital seems to have a truckload of problems. This new hospital, though a nice building, appears to be ‘state of the art’ only in name, but not in practice, since so many complaints have to be referred to GPHC or some other medical institution. And just why are so many of the staff disgruntled and dissatisfied? Though we ought to be proud of our young people and their achievement – especially our own Lindeners – I think that it is totally unfair to the newly qualified young doctors, and I dare say a disservice to the community, to have them totally on their own without experienced back-up, as critical cases may demand.
Editor, I have seen the letter by Joycelyn Morian, pleading on behalf of pensioners in Kwakwani who have to travel “the torturous Kwakwani trail, a journey that costs $4,200 return and takes over three hours to collect a meagre pension.” This is shameful and stressful; why can’t this simple matter be rectified by the people in charge. Do we have to wait on the intervention of the President? Call me pessimistic if you will, but once we remain uncaring, minding our own business, shrouded in selfishness, turning a blind eye to the increasing financial burden of the less fortunate, the unemployed, underpaid and the under-employed, then as sure as the sun rises we will inherit a scenario that will make us scream and jump at our own shadow. The cost of living is way above many pockets, and a cursory survey will reveal that there is a high number of people on the breadline who cannot pay bills, and young women in and out of school indulging in sexual relations for almost anything – even a meal. There are young men who would do anything imaginable; contractors who undercut each other and scramble for jobs and various forms of exploitation. Understand that electricity and water is moving up the ladder of becoming a status symbol’ many cannot afford the cost. We should not be surprised if we begin to experience a rise in crime. So far Linden can count itself lucky for having the good fortune to be a remarkably low-crime community, when one takes into consideration the high level of unemployment.
Editor, many times some people in charge become furious and bitter at criticisms over the poor work done for which they are responsible, while on the other hand some people are hesitant to speak up about what in their heart they know is wrong, but because of a close relationship or out of respect they do not want to appear to be opposing those at fault. And so by their silence they endorse the wrong, when they should have been taking a stand. We need to see the bigger picture, and what is of benefit to an entire community and not the feelings of individuals who by their action or inaction are responsible for the unwholesome state of affairs. This is why I think that Ian Halls should not be castigated for his part in exposing some of these failings, wrongs and corrupt practices that now seem normal and are spreading. And I do hope that he can remain bold and summon the courage to denounce improper practices across partisan lines in a forthright manner guided by a sense of purpose and service towards the community.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
