Residents of Pigeon Island on the East Coast of Demerara are incensed at the erecting of a plant shop on the state reserve and the dispute has now drawn in several ministers of government and the chairman of a NDC.
The plant shop is owned by Phulmatie Budhram and Seudayal Singh who started erecting it two Sundays ago after their other shop on the Railway Embankment and Agriculture Road was torn down two Fridays ago. Budhram yesterday told Stabroek News that she had gotten permission for the plant shop from Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill but the minister has vehemently denied this. Budhram’s account of the permission has also been supported by the Chairman of the Better Hope Neighbourhood Democractic Council (NDC), Zaman Shaw.
The matter came to public notice after residents of Pigeon Island drew up a petition on Wednesday December 2nd urging Edghill to intervene and stop the construction. The petitioners also copied their letter to Minister of Local Government, Nigel Dharamlall and Shaw. The petition was also sent to the media.