Interviews by Jeanna Pearson and photos by Rae Wiltshire
This week we asked residents of Plastic City, a squatting area on the foreshore of Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara, about their views on the upcoming General Elections and what changes they would like to see happen.
Terrence Giddings, Miner: `The conditions we living under is not nice…our children growing up around toilet water, faeces and garbage. So we are hoping for a change. We don’t want to continue living here. It’s not our choice but the truth is house lots too expensive to buy. It would be good if the new government would give us water and light. I want a change yes but I don’t think I want to vote because I’m fearful that the same thing will happen.’
Amanda Alfred, Housewife: `This is my first time voting and I want to see a change. The people forget we in Plastic City; I listen to all the parties telling us what they will give us if we allow them in office but I don’t know who to believe. None of them came here to speak with us in Plastic City.’
Ronald Alfred, Mason: `I’m voting for a change because I don’t want to continue living under these conditions. I’m old now and I care about what will happen to my
children and their children. We, here, in Plastic City living to survive and we want betterment. We need light and water. We need better school system and security.’
Jane Marks, housewife: `I’m voting this year for betterment. We need better roads, roads that last longer and better living conditions. I don’t really care who wins the election once we get betterment.’
Rohinee Damodar, Shop-keeper: `I’m satisfied with the way things are. I don’t think there is a need for change….look how the place fancying up! There is a lot of new buildings in town. But I’m still voting.’
Jocelyn Damodar, unemployed: `This is my first time voting and I would like to see Plastic City regularized. This is home for us. I want them to regularize here and
improve how we live. We need light and water. It’s too expensive paying $3500 for a black tank of water every week and sometimes two times a week. We need a change here in
Plastic City.’
Avril Archibald, self-employed: `We just got to hope and pray for the best to happen in this elections. Everybody glad for a change. We don’t have light and water. My daughter is a nurse and she had to leave home to go in town to study because there is no light. We glad for the light and water.’
Dillip Lambert, labourer: `I’m not voting this year because I’m not registered. I think everybody up there is going to promise us and promise us but
when they get in that office they forget us and all their promises. I would like whoever get into office to regularize Plastic City because this is my
home.’
Mandoor Alli, ex-solider: `I’m going to vote and hope for some change. But all we living on right now is promises and promises. We glad to
get a good government but if no matter who we put in there they are going to full their pockets and forget us. They don’t have time for poor people. All of us want change but who could we trust?’
Jonny Ramdas, labourer: `I’m satisfied with the way things are right now. All I want them to focus on is the youths and getting people off the
streets. There are too many people living on the streets.’
