(This is the fifth part in a series on the state of local government considering that elections have not been held in 20 years)
By Mario Joseph
Roads are a major problem in the PPP/C stronghold of La Jalousie/Nouvelle Neighbourhood Democratic Community (NDC) though the community appears to be in better shape than others.
The NDC is responsible for eight villages, comprised of an estimated 4,500 residents. They are tasked with the maintenance of one community ground attached to the NDC, three schools and two cemeteries. Staffed with a new assistant overseer, two security guards and one cleaner, the council operates without any heavy -duty machinery like some of the other NDCs. Two Ministry of Agriculture employees and an Environmental Protection Agency representative are stationed at the location and perform special duties since the neighbourhood is an agricultural community. Aside from that, the NDC employs labourers as needed. The council currently functions with eight councillors some of whom are replacements from the original batch of PPP-affiliated community members who won a no contest election according to Chairman, Guyadeen.
The West Coast NDC is North-bounded by the Demerara River, South-bounded by the Boerasirie Canal, West by a trench between La Jalousie and Blankenburg and East by a trench between Vreed-en-Hoop and Pouderoyen that ends at Nouvelle. Despite facing a similar dilemma as other NDCs, with their budget estimates only approved