Residents of Ann’s Grove, on the East Coast Demerara, are calling on the relevant authorities to repair their deplorable roads and clear the weed-infested drains that continue to overflow and cause flooding.
When Stabroek News visited the community recently and spoke with some residents, they complained that the roads are in a deplorable state as they are filled with potholes, while due to the poor drainage and irrigation system, the area floods every time it rains.
Because of the state of the roads, they said they experience difficulty accessing transportation, while vehicles are damaged at tremendous cost to the owners, whenever they use it. The flooding, they added, poses many health risks to their families and especially the children, who often fall sick.
Lloyd Denny, who operates a business in the area, said for the many years he has been residing in the community, he has seen no maintenance work. He said that numerous approaches were made to the relevant authorities but all the residents have been getting are promises. “All they giving is promises and we can’t see no progress,” he said.
Onika Grant, the postwoman for the area, expressed her frustration with the difficulties she faces in carrying out her duties. When it rains, she said, “I have to find my way to go through all the water to deliver the mails. Sometimes I does even have to call the residents to a point to collect their mails,” she said.
“With potholes all over till out to the main road, what do they expect if not regular repairs of our vehicles?” another resident questioned while appealing to the authorities to do something about the roads. “We are fed up of this situation,” he added.
Kenneth Fraser, another concerned resident who was born in Ann’s Grove, lamented that while community has a lot of facilities, persons are deprived of the right to use them because they are all in a poor state. “There is a playground and the children can’t use it, because it is covered with grass. Every time it rains, a little water get to your knee level and parents even experience difficulty in taking their children to the primary school because they have to lift them,” he said in frustration. “The maintenance is not being kept up as far as I can see and there is where the issue lies,” he noted.
When contacted for a comment on the complaints, Superintendent of Works of the Haslington/Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Randolph Dos Santos told this newspaper that every effort is currently being made to fix the various issues that have been affecting the residents.
