Dear Editor,
This afternoon, I read a GINA report captioned ‘BV/Triumph NDC gets concrete bridge -courtesy of the Ali family.’ As a resident of the BV/Triumph community and a citizen of Guyana I see what is linked to this report as offensive.
First off the pretence that a gift bridge was made to the NDC is clearly debunked in the same report. The bridge was given to the Muslim community between Success to Mon Repos. It was a facilitating endeavour for the members of that religious community so that they can have easier access to their burial ground. In addition, I see this gift to our NDC as creating additional burdens for a cash-strapped NDC, which would now have to budget for the maintenance of a bridge that is not of the best construction.
Evidence of the level of the lack which the NDC suffers is very visible, including:
• The piles of garbage left on the roadside because the government appointed contractor is not paid sufficient to remove the garbage produced in the community.
• The Triumph Middle Walk canal once used for irrigation and transportation to the backlands is clogged.
• The bridge from Republic Drive to Jardine Street in Triumph can best be classified as a Cassandra Crossing.
Thus to add another structure in the form of this bridge to be maintained by the NDC is surely adding too much. I believe the Muslim community needed the bridge. I also believe they should claim it as theirs and ensure that it is maintained.
I view the report with distaste as a citizen of Guyana, as I try to understand how the Government Information Agency can justify the promotion of an activity linked to family members of a serving Minister of Government. On the other hand GINA has been neglecting to report on developments or non-developments within the BV/Triumph community and even the nation as a whole, when developments are not sponsored by government or persons associated with it, or when non-action of the part of government leads to suffering.
Yours faithfully,
Elton McRae
