The APNU+AFC’s “Government comes to you” Berbice outreach, held on the lawns of the University of Guyana’s Tain Campus yesterday, saw a poor turnout, and was rivaled by protest action by over 200 People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) supporters.
Throughout the day yesterday, Berbicians trickled into the event, some just taking a look around before leaving.
However, most of the persons who did attend, explained that the process was a smooth one, which left them with a bit of hope that their issues would be dealt with.
The majority of attendees were hoping to raise issues with the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), while others used the opportunity to sign up for the allocation of house lots.
Several Corentyne residents, including Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s brother, were present to raise water issues affecting them on the Corentyne.
Nagamootoo’s brother, who said he resides in Whim Village, Corentyne, noted that his water pressure has slowed over the past few weeks, while residents from Albion, Fyrish, Number One village and other areas, said they have not been receiving water for about two weeks.
One attendee, Henry Monroe, explained that he raised an issue with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission about being the owner of an ancestral property located some 13 miles down the Berbice River.
The man said he had raised the issue with the authorities before yesterday but had not received the necessary clarifications he had wanted. As such, he was anxiously hoping that all of his questions would be answered yesterday.
Another resident, Bibi Abrahim, of Lot 4 Tain Settlement, Corentyne, explained that she was present to meet with GTT, since she has been awaiting the services of a landline for four years.
The woman explained that she has visited the company’s sub-offices in the region numerous times, but to no avail. “Them tell me must keep on check them out,” she said. “We went out the country and came back to live here in 2015, so in 2016 me apply for phone and it really hard, me really want one line phone, me na really with the cellphone, the cellphone expensive to use,” she stated.
Another Berbician explained that she was present to seek clarity about her contributions made to the National Insurance Scheme. “I get to meet with them and I going back to collect the print out now,” she related.
Several persons who interacted with Stabroek News stated that they were present to meet with the Ministry of Housing in hopes of acquiring house lots.
One young father of two explained that he still lives with his parents and is hoping to purchase his own house lot in order to start investing in a house for his family.
The protest
Meanwhile, over 200 supporters of the PPP/C protested the initiative.
The party’s Regional Supervisor, Zamal Hussain, while speaking to media operatives after 11 am yesterday, pointed out that there were more residents on the picket line than those present at the outreach. “I went in there myself and they only have the staff for the various ministries and a few persons,” he noted.
Labeling the exercise a massive failure, Hussain said, “We are outside picketing for various issues, jobs for sugar workers, subsidies for pensioners, water issues, many other issues and to date none of these issues were resolved, so this whole procession that came down from Georgetown to look after the complaints of the people is just a waste exercise, it is a vacation for the ministers them I think”.
He added, “Let me give you an example. GWI is right here at Kilcoy (Corentyne) and many persons make complain, why move them from their office there and bring them to Tain Campus? No issues are being resolved”.
Hussain later pointed out that the government ministers arrived only around 3 pm yesterday, although they had been in Berbice at State House, located in New Amsterdam, since morning.
He added, “I was told they kept a Cabinet meeting at State house, millions spent to host that Cabinet meeting”.
Stabroek News questioned the protestors yesterday, who said that they all had specific issues that have not been dealt with, hence their participation in the protest action.
Asked why they did not use the opportunity to raise their issues, one man said, “We a go the office and them na do nothing, wah you think them go do here? Them only come for show here”.
Another protester, Parsaram Harrinarine of Canefield, East Canje, Berbice said, “My issue is GWI is coming to my area and disconnecting customers who owe only and less than a thousand dollar without notifying them. They coming and cut off then the customers have to go and pay a reconnection fee”.
Harrinarine pointed out that the majority of residents in his area lost their jobs due to the closure of the Rose Hall Estate, and as such, he thought that a better option would be for GWI to give the persons an opportunity to clear their bills. “Why they can’t come and warn them and give them a short time to pay it?” he questioned.
Another protester, Gladwin Abdulla, of Fyrish Village, Corentyne, explained that he has not been receiving water regularly for the past several months. “I meet with Mr. Van West-Charles at Town Hall (New Amsterdam) and he promise to look into the matter and up to now, nothing. Instead of the situation getting better it only getting worse and on a daily basis we getting interruptions…We getting it in and out and people complaining, children got to go to school, people got to go to work, it affecting us,” he complained.
“I visit the office, I talk to Mr., Henry, Ms. King and nuff more people—nothing. That’s why I’m out here, cause me raise this issue a lot of times and them didn’t do nothing”, he said.
The New Amsterdam Mayor and Town Council booth
A view of the booths
