Two contestants from constituency 8 of the Toevlugt/Patentia Neighbourhood Democratic Council fear the impact of the Wales estate closure and want the main access bridge in their area addressed.
Those vying for positions on the council are Bharat Thakur, 55, a junior staffer in crop husbandry, field department at the Wales estate and Stanley Cooper, a retired salesman/driver at Banks DIH.
Living just across the street from each other at Patentia Housing Scheme, West Bank Demerara, their area encompasses from the second to the seventh streets in the scheme.
Thakur is on the proportional representation list for the PPP/C which means he could possibly be selected as a councillor. Cooper on the other hand is in the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) section of the election but has no opposition meaning he will be declared the elected councillor. The PPP/C fielded no contestant in this constituency.
One of their main priorities is to fix the main access bridge to the scheme that was damaged one year ago after a canter truck collapsed on it with the weight from gas bottles it was transporting.
Thakur serves as a councillor in the Regional Democratic Council and has been involved in the Community Policing Group.
A former organising field secretary with the Guyana Agricultural & General Workers’ Union, he still assists workers who have issues with the National Insurance Scheme claims.
He had made representation before for the bridge to be fixed but was told that it was a central government project and would be fixed after the budget.
He said that a lot of issues need to be addressed but his focus is also on having the streets rehabilitated and the drains cleared. He would also deal with the garbage disposal problems.
Like all the other residents, Thakur who has 40 years’ experience at the Wales estate, dreads the negative effect that its closure would have on the community.
The former trade unionist said that the announcement of the plans to close the estate came as a shock to everyone. He has not made any plans for the future but knows that he has to find other sources of employment so he can meet his commitment at the bank to repay his loan.
He is concerned too about being able to find employment at his age, saying employers are “looking for strong, energetic people…”
Many other workers had taken loans and they are distressed about being able to honour their obligations.
Thakur said he had moved a motion denouncing the closure, arguing that workers were not consulted before the announcement.
He wished that the intention to close is just a nightmare he would wake up from so that the community would develop instead of becoming stagnant.
Cooper said that he is “living in the area and would like to see things go in a way that would benefit everyone.”
My yard
Originally from Mahaicony, Region Five, Cooper who moved to Patentia over 40 years ago, said, “This is a beautiful country, we only need unity.”
He would “like to see a clear surrounding. The same [good] condition I have my yard in, that’s how I would like to see the community.”
He would also ensure that all of the roads are properly maintained. His goal is to also see the main bridge, which has been out of use to vehicular traffic fixed. He noted that the bridge is not too safe to walk on.
His plans are also to see that the drains are properly cleared and that the school compound is clean and tidy and that the playfield is in working order for activities.
He would see that assistance is provided for the elderly residents with whatever they need.
As a retiree, he feels he would have enough time on his hands to accomplish all of his plans. He is confident that if he gets a break to lead the community he would get the co-operation from residents.
Cooper acknowledges that the Wales closure “is a problem” and would affect progress. But he is aware that nothing can be done about it and that the work would still have to go on.
According to him, anywhere an estate closes the activity would slow down because many people would be out of jobs.
He said if alternative jobs are provided that would help residents to get money to run their homes and to pay up their rates and taxes.
“All over the world taxes have to be paid and residents have to find some alternative way… or things would be stagnated.”
