Dear Editor
I am a resident of New Providence, EBD and I write to you on behalf of our association to voice our grave concerns about a proposed project by a certain private company. Around 2018, this company claimed that they are the owner of our western drainage canal and reserve which runs north to south from Mocha road to Stadium road. A claim which no proof or documentation was ever provided to us. Their plan is to fill up this said canal which separates our neighbourhood from their land, and further, to take hold our reserve and build a 10 ft. fence parallel to our back fence.
This canal no longer serves as Navigational and Irrigation purposes for GuySuCo but was expanded, becoming central to the drainage network of neighbouring communities since the construction of the Guyana National Stadium many years ago. Over the years, our association had several visits by officials from the Guyana Lands & Surveys Dept. who told us explicitly that the ownership and use of the Government reserve and canal cannot be legally changed. Recently we have observed several attempts by this company to fill in the said canal which has served as an important drainage catchment for our community since its establishment in 1968.
In recent months several residents have experienced increased flooding during periods of heavy rainfall and are now of the opinion that the deliberate reduction in the size of the canal may be directly responsible for this flooding. On several occasions residents have approached the Eccles/Ramsburg NDC to make them aware of this development and sought their intervention in this matter. The NDC reiterated that they never transferred ownership of the said Gov’t reserve nor canal and that they will issue a “Cease Order” which apparently was never issued.
On the night of April 26th 2022, “like a thief in the dark,” filling of the canal resumed. Several residents converged at the scene with torchlights and their phones to record the skullduggery in process. The next day we once again approached the NDC with the video taken and demanded that they show us proof of the ownership claimed by the perpetrators and any action taken by them to address our complaints. To date, no proof was provided. On May 3rd 2022 a letter was dispatched to the NDC by our association demanding answers but we are yet to receive a reply. This letter was copied to the following:
1) The Minister of Public Infrastructure
2) The Minister of Local Government
3) National Drainage & Irrigation Authority
4) Guyana Lands & Surveys Dept.
Sincerely,
Kamini Bulkan
