Dear Editor,
I am a rice farmer of Hague Settlement on the West Coast Demerara in Region 3. I also reside very close to the Hague outfall koker and I have a vested interest in its continual smooth operations, because whatever goes wrong there will ultimately affect my rice crop in different ways – flooding in particular.
Editor, I have to let central government know through this medium that all is not well in our region. There is administrative bickering and backstabbing, and we are being short-changed. This situation has existed for the longest while. What confuses the minds of those who seek the services of the regional authorities, is that we often do not know whom to approach. What I have been able to gather is that there is rampant usurpation of administrative responsibilities. This is so, because the two ultimate heads can’t call a spade a spade!
The above is a true picture of what goes on among paid public servants. People whom we once held in high esteem have now fallen from grace, all because of self-interest. They have to bear in mind that we are the electorate and they will have to come to us again.
A privately owned excavator has been desilting the Hague West main drainage canal for over 80 days and still has not finished the job. The reasons for this are manifold; there is more down time than time spent on getting the work moving towards completion. All this happened because there is poor oversight by the region. The excavator operator has been putting thick slush mud in the centre of the side-line dam which is the main access to get the paddy from our rice fields. If the rain continues unchanged, the dam will be in a mess and impossible to use. This is another disaster looming.
On the main issue for immediate attention: The Hague koker has been operating with only one sluice operator for over 45 days. The door opens only in the daytime; my son and I paid a villager to assist for four nights from our own pockets. Let me say from experience, that for one person to operate the koker winch for any length of time can cause serious structural damage and compromise the manufacturer’s warranty.
I urge the NDC Chairman and his very work-oriented fellow councillors to do something meaningful before it is too late. The ravaging Atlantic and the unrelenting rainfall will have no mercy on us. Now is the time, later will be too late.
Yours faithfully,
Ganga Persaud
