Dear Editor,
I refer to a letter titled ‘There should be value for money from the clean-up groups of East La Penitence funded by the government’ (SN, January 9) written by Mr Charles Solomon. In this letter there are numerous unverified statements and misinformation.
The East La Penitence Community Development Group (ELAPCDG) is not a clean-up group as suggested by Mr Solomon, but rather, a group established and operated by residents to address the issues affecting their community. It totally embraces the concept of ‘Community Develop-ment,’ strengthening and bringing about change in communities by encouraging their residents to identify the problems they face and to work in partnership with fellow residents, other groups and statutory agencies to achieve the desired changes. Community clean-ups are only one of the initiatives undertaken by the group with participation by the residents. Since its formation there have been several of these “clean-ups” from Mandela Avenue to Vlissingen Road on dedicated weekends. Residents are asked to come out and engage in the cleaning of their drains and parapets as well as helping neighbours. These activities usually include residents pooling their resources: tools, finances and even a few pots of cook-up and coolers of drink which contribute to the social high of the activities. However, it’s always a delight seeing the young children eagerly packing weeds, grass and littered bottles into the garbage bags. Further to the aforementioned initiative, other projects have included August literacy classes, a Christmas party for the children within the community and pedestrian crossing painting at schools in collaboration with the East La Penitence Community Policing Group and in partnership with churches within the community, along with community meetings for updates and feedback by residents.
Further to that, it’s important to note that the development group and the residents are not funded by the government nor do they receive any special funding, even though requests are made to various agencies such as the Mayor and City Council, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and the Guyana Tourism Authority to provide assistance on clean-up initiatives in the form of transportation for the removal of debris and overgrown vegetation from clogged drains, tools or manpower. After all, this is the key aspect of community development, to engage the support of other groups. Without such interactions, agencies like those dealing with solid waste management or the Ministry of Public Works may go unaware of the issue of uncollected or infrequent garbage collection for two or even six weeks, or deplorable roads until letters and telephone calls are made by the civic-minded citizens of East La Penitence. However, we wish to thank Mr Solomon for his highlight which was also reflected in the caption of his letter, since as residents and citizens we ask that better supervision be done on the drainage and irrigation groups in communities, functioning under the Ministry of Agriculture’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority. We wish to also thank him for his expression that the works done in East La Penitence may be valued in the millions of dollars; however, this is largely from the sweat of residents’ participation who have embraced the concept of community development. We note that there is much more that can be achieved, moreso if all residents and others like Mr Solomon, who are never willing to participate but spend their time criticizing the pitfalls in every new initiative, lent support with their time, effort and ideas. Our communities can be the paradise we envisage using the model of community development.
Yours faithfully,
Delroy Carrington
Chairman
East La Penitence
Community Development Group
