Dear Editor,
Over the past month I have taken to the print, social and electronic media to highlight the incompetence of the Chairman and Councillors who govern the Golden Grove/Diamond NDC.
It is unfortunate to see the deplorable conditions that exist within the boundaries of this large and important NDC, but there has been a very poor response by these elected representatives. As a former independent candidate in the local government elections I did recognize the need to increase the revenue base and to generate more income so that our NDC can deliver efficient and effective services to the people. I truly believe that our NDC is one of the largest and richest NDCs in Guyana, however many residents have lost confidence in the way things are managed, so they are deterred from fullfilling their obligations to the NDC, hence a reluctance to even pay taxes due to the council.
In response to the tone of a letter I wrote in your newspaper about the burial ground, the Chairman of the NDC stated that it was hardly ever used, and the council was focusing its resources on a new burial ground. This is laughable, since if they cannot upkeep the present one which they have allowed to deteriorate over the years, would they upkeep another one? As a small boy growing up, myself and others used to traverse the burial ground because it was well kept and you could see in and out; today it’s like a deep jungle so people will not bury their departed in these horrible conditions. As a consequence no one will approach the NDC.
I spoke about councillors not walking about and meeting with the people to see the many issues that affect them, yet we are hearing they do. Well, let me highlight some of the issues that they may have missed:
*the poor conditions of the street drains and deep overgrown bush behind the Pepsi sign in Diamond;
*east to west trenches with deep weeds and overgrown bush;
*deplorable roads in Diamond Housing Scheme ‒ too many to list;
*access to the Caneville, Diamond Cemeteries impassable;
*difficulty of disposing of garbage in the Caneville and Samatta Point areas;
*infestations of mosquitos in Old Diamond due to overgrown bushes and deep vegetation.
I can go on but space will not permit; it is time central government steps in and looks into these concerns that affect hundreds of residents and bring to an end this nonsense for once and all.
Yours faithfully,
Andre Fortune