Recreational facilities for youth and improved drainage systems are on top of the list for the members of the Community for Change and Development who are contesting to be councillors on the Caledonia/Good Success local authority at the March 18 local government polls.
According to Deputy Coordinator Collin Weekes, the group prides itself on being non-political. He explained that it comprises residents who have a vested interest in seeing their communities properly developed. Among the goals the group plans to achieve are fostering communication between the Neigbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and community members, improving security through adequate street lights, establishment and improvement of recreational, health and education facilities, improved garbage collection and waste disposal systems and cleaning and maintenance of drains and road surfaces.
Specifically addressing the issue of improper drainage and safety of residents, Weekes explained that residents in the area made several requests to the current NDC for improvements, but nothing was ever done.
Apart from the obvious evidence of the blocked waterways by overgrown vegetation, Gokaran Sukdeo another group representative contesting the elections, expounded: “You beg the NDC people to come do something, but nothing has been done. We, the villagers would sometimes have to do some spraying or some other form of self-help work.” He said it was unfair for them to do that since the NDC was still collecting rates from the residents.
This was further emphasised by coordinator of the group Ethel McCaskey who told Stabroek News that the lack of proper drainage and infrastructure pervades all of the communities. A resident of Relief/Brickery – Constituency three, McCaskey explained that in her area the issue of lack of proper drainage systems is one that spanned a number of years. Because of it, she said, residents have been unable to efficiently utilize the backlands.
“What we have in this area is the lands and the use of the land is what is important but a lot of the persons in that area cannot utilize the land properly because the proper infrastructure is not being created. We recognize that the NDC is not financed to do all those things but they can still make the proper representations to get them done,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, for other community representatives like Doreen Scipio and Rohini Ramnuath, once elected, they hope to work along with the community to establish youth centres and recreational facilities for the youth.
Ramnauth, who is acting Headteacher at the Friendship Secondary School, expressed enthusiasm at working with Community for Change and Development to bring about a better environment free of violence and other societal ills. “We have communities that are filled with children and there is no particular area or space where they can exert their energies. So my focus would be to establish community centres and playgrounds so that our children are meaningfully occupied,” she said.
Scipio of south Friendship, expressed confidence that residents from the communities they are representing will be the “voices of support” that will result in their success.
According to Weekes, the group will be contesting in nine constituencies along the Caledonia/Good Success area on the East Bank Demerara: Land of Canaan, Sarah Johana-Pearl, Relief/Brickery, Garden of Eden, Friendship North, Friendship South, New Hope, Good Success and Craig.
