Dear Editor,
I thought it wise to provide information on the circumstances surrounding the operations of the Bartica NDC. I have seen letters appearing in SN and remarks made by officials who create the impression of an inactive and non-cooperative NDC mired in corruption.
Just to let you know, as the Chairman of the NDC, I used to appear on local TV keeping the villagers informed of our position as the stewards of the village. Since cable came into existence in Bartica many villagers spend their TV time glued to other channels, so most of the people don’t see our programme, hence the wise thing to do is use your newspaper to meet most of the people.
On the assumption to office of our new Minister of Local Government Ganga Persaud, who I know has the experience to run his ministry, I wrote a letter on the circumstances at the Bartica NDC which over the years have prevented us from performing our duties properly.
Since 2008 our annual estimates to run our village were never approved by the former Minister.
(1) Our last rates and taxes increase was approved in 2004; between then and now, 2012, our services and costs have risen over 100% but yet we stretch what revenue we receive in an effort to provide whatever limited services we can. The last property appraisals for Bartica were done in 1988, and taxes are calculated as a percentage of the value of these properties. Some properties which cost a few thousand dollars in 1988 are now valued at millions of dollars. So there is a great disparity between the taxes residents pay and the services they expect.
(2) The last salary increase for our staff was in 2003.
(3) Since 2004 the housing drive in Bartica has increased dramatically due to the mining boom in the Mazaruni-Cuyuni area. There are many more homes to deal with in relation to garbage collection, drainage, environmental issues, an overused dumpsite, etc.
(4) The Massey Ferguson 390 tractor we received as a gift from the British High Commission in 1996 is now a worn-out piece of equipment. It just crawls around daily collecting garbage with just two labourers to deal with the situation. The experience of the very old driver is what keeps the tractor on the road, Sunday to Sunday, for it could fall apart any day.
(5) The dumpsite needs a piece of heavy duty equipment to keep the garbage in the site area on a daily basis. Otherwise every other week we may have to find $400,000 dollars to clear the main roadway going into the Byderabo and Agatash communities.
(6) Owing to our limited revenue base we are unable to pay our street-light bills, our market light bills or even attend to some much required remedial works.
As for the corruption spoken of, our NDC is constantly audited by the Auditor General Office. For 2011 we had over two visits.
Every year the government affords us a subvention of $3 million which is expended through the office of the Regional Administration. All we do is state the projects and the Regional Administration deals with the works.
To properly perform our duties as an NDC, we estimate we will need to have a revenue base of over $50 million. At the moment we are receive under $20 million.
Yours faithfully,
Gerald Joseph
Chairman
Bartica NDCv
