Dear Editor,
While the destruction of homes and livelihoods of some Cane View, Mocha residents by the PPP/C, still remains fresh in the minds of Guyanese, the PPP/C has now turned their attention on the residents of Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara. Some residents are now being asked to remove from the area, since their properties are in alignment with the proposed site for the construction of the much-needed New Demerara Harbour Bridge. Editor, there are several concerns surrounding this project which must be brought to the attention of the public.
In 2013, the then PPP/C Government, under former Presi-dent, Donald Ramotar had a pre- feasibility done at three locations: Houston, Peters Hall and New Hope, all on the East Bank Demerara corridor. Nothing much was done afterwards. The Coalition Government took office in May 2015 and treated the construction of a New Deme-rara Harbour Bridge as a priority. In 2017, Lievense CSO, a consultancy firm out of Holland, was awarded the contract to conduct a feasibility study. A comprehensive study was submitted in 2017, after consultations were held with key stakeholders.
Editor, from the three sites, the study recommended that the best site for the construction of the New Demerara Harbour Bridge is Houston-Versailles. The study provided several reasons why and I will share for the interest of your readership:
1. The highest socio-economic cost benefit (highest benefits for invested money).
2. Much lower urban and environmental impacts than other locations.
3. The best solution to improve traffic.
4. The lowest investment cost and thus the most viable from a funding viewpoint.
The report further suggested that “some issues to be resolved are the resettlement of some houses, and efforts to minimize the impact to the Muneshwer terminal, as well as to the PSI Fish-ing terminal adjacent to the bridge.”
During the consideration of Budget 2023 Estimates, Hon. David Patterson questioned The Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill about a number of issues regarding the construction of the bridge. These included the engagement or consultations with residents, who are perceived to be residing in closed proximity of the project site. I quote verbatim from the Hansard, “Could the Hon. Minister say whether the contractor submitted any geotechnical or any design reports? If so, have these been approved? Has the commencement order for the project been issued? If so, on what date?” This is what the Honourable Bishop Edghill stated, “I would also like to indicate that we have just recently received in country the supervisory firm that will be supervising this design/build project. That supervisory firm took effect, I think, from 15th January 2023. They are in the mobilisation stage. I met them last Friday for the first time. The contractor is required to submit all of the things, that Mr. Patterson, the Hon. Member, was asking about to the supervisory firm so that they can review them and approve them so that we can actually have approvals for the construction. The Minister would not approve designs, geotechnical and other technical things. We have asked that a supervisory firm, which we went out publicly and advertised for the supervision of this project…Politécnico, out of Italy, won this bid and they are now the supervisory firm in place….Just last Friday an engagement was held with the contractor and the supervisory firm, and my project team and we will be able to keep the nation updated, in another couple of weeks, on various stages of where the bridge will be. As it relates to land acquisition, the Ministry of Housing has successfully, and I would like to say successfully, negotiated and handled all of the properties that are in the path of the bridge, and we had no resistance from anyone not wanting to move. I would like to report that to the House.” To further strengthen his response, the Honourable Bishop reported to Parliament, “the Ministry of Housing engaging people for relocation, all of that has been done.”
Editor, Bishop Edghill has now been exposed, since the residents have brought to the attention of the public several weeks ago that they have been issued with letters, “Re: Notice of Removal,” dated February 14, 2023, signed by CEO-CHPA, Mr. Sherwin Greaves.
Editor, clearly the Honorable Bishop and his colleagues lack transparency and accountability. How can these people be trusted? It is clear that the residents were never consulted prior to the passage of the National Budget on Thursday, February 2, 2023. Since they were only provided letters, dated February 14, 2023.
Editor, it is also clear that the PPP/C has no intention of engaging key stakeholders in a timely manner in the rolling out of their projects. Instead, they are literally bullying citizens and bulldozing their properties if they feel they are in their way. Where is the justice? Whose side is the law on? Who will defend the rights of these victims of the PPP/C?
I appeal for help for the vulnerable citizens of this nation, who live in fear of being displaced and or losing their property at the whim and fancy of this government.
Sincerely,
Annette Ferguson
Member of Parliament