Retired Major-General Norman McLean has voiced concerns to Mayor Ubraj Narine over the state of the Le Repentir Cemetery, which he says has become a virtual dump.
In a February 26th, 2021 letter to the Mayor, which was copied to this newspaper, McLean noted that his grandparents and parents are buried in the cemetery and that he had taken pride in ensuring that their tombs have been well maintained throughout the years.
However, he informed Narine that his family could no longer reach the cross streets to visit the grave sites as the area has become a dump.
“The junctions leading from Louisa Row past Memorial Gardens and what used to be a beautiful monument which has been destroyed, as it was a small roundabout onto the cross street leading to a wooden bridge at Sussex St and is now inaccessible,” he wrote.
McLean highlighted the presence of “old stoves, fridges and tons of garbage and bags” that have been dumped at the junction of the extension of Louisa Row and the last cross street before Sussex Street. He added that he can no longer access the road to his mother’s gravesite, while pointing out that when he tried to get around via the Broad Street extension he discovered that a drain had been dug.
“The entire cemetery is a garbage dump as the situation is being replicated everywhere,” he observed, while also pointing out that “graves are broken into, busted open sliding into canals and trenches,” and that the tombs and grave sites are no longer visible as trees in all varieties have taken over the area.
Mc Lean asked that the garbage be cleared and the cemetery be made a garbage-free zone.
Meanwhile, Mayor Narine, when contacted by this newspaper, stated that while he understands McLean’s concerns about the condition of the cemetery, the Mayor and City Council must not be blamed for everything since others also play a major part.
He explained that the council recently took about five truck drivers to court for dumping garbage in the cemetery after they were caught in the act.
According to Narine, the dumping is being done by contractors hired by the Ministry of Public Works to clean the city. He believes that some citizens who observed dumping being done at the cemetery have also followed suit.
Narine disclosed that after he took up office, the entire Cemetery Road area was cleaned and maintained but the dumping of garbage is a recent act committed by persons hired by another agency.
He said if the Council were properly informed of the type of works being undertaken by public agencies, guidance would have been provided.
The Mayor added that officials can take the option of meeting with officers of the council if not the Mayor, to serve as a guide for the contractors on what to do concerning the waste.
Additionally, he noted that he has contacted the Solid Waste Director, Walter Narine, on the issue and he informed him that they needed an excavator to do the clean-up work and stated that he will seek to reach out.
Narine said team work is needed to clean up the area.
Narine also disclosed that the council is in the process of finalising a MoU with Muslim organisations in the city to enhance their plot of beds in the cemetery. He encouraged other religions to come on board as the plans to modernise the cemetery will cost millions of dollars.
Meanwhile, to the issue of overgrown bushes and trees in the cemetery, Narine said this particular project requires major intervention and the council will need the help of government to rectify the situation.
During a visit to the Le Repentir Cemetery Stabroek News observed garbage dumped at almost every entrance along Cemetery Road as well as overgrown trees and bushes blocking a clear view of the tombs.
