– Burrowes welcomes City Hall’s urgency in dealing with issues surrounding the cemetery
COMMISSIONER of Inquiry investigating the operations of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) in Georgetown, Mr. Keith Burrowes, said he welcomes the urgency with which City Hall is dealing with the issues surrounding Le Repentir Cemetery.

This cemetery is a major concern to Burrowes who, only last week, visited the site and publicly alluded to its current deplorable state.

Informed sources have revealed that this will be one of the issues that will be addressed and presented in the final report that has already been completed by the Burrowes’ Commission.

A section of the gathering that turned up at last Tuesday’s interactive session at City Hall to offer their suggestions on works to be done at Le Repentir cemeterxy.

In an invited comment on Wednesday, Burrowes said it is his hope that a proper action plan will be put in place by the Council and that this is not just another situation where the public is invited to a meeting which seeks to discuss something that they are aware of.

Burrowes also expressed the hope that concrete action, which shows immediate and tangible results, is initiated.

The report is complete and Minister of Local Government Mr. Kellawan Lall has been fully briefed on the findings and recommendations of the Commission.

The Chronicle has been reliably informed that the Minister has taken some time to peruse the Report and digest its contents before briefing the media at a formal press conference to be convened shortly with the Commissioner.

The M&CC, last Tuesday, arranged an interactive session with members of the public that was aimed at advancing the interest of the burial site.

In attendance at the session at City Hall were Deputy Mayor Robert Williams, City Engineer Gregory Erskine, City Constabulary Superintendent Edmond Moore and a number of councillors, among them Patricia Chase-Green and Ranwell Jordan.

Commissioner Keith Burrowes (left) during his visit to Le Repentir cemetery last week.

In his address, the Deputy Mayor revealed that Guyana lost a prospective foreign investor who, after visiting Le Repentir Cemetery, enquired about the next flight out.

He said the foreigner recommended developing a new plot instead of starting works on the existing ground.

Williams said the issues involved require a process of ownership, as it is everyone’s desire to better the extant surroundings.

He pointed out that one of the reasons for its deplorable state has to do with the extension, back in 1970, of the city from two and a half square miles to 15 square miles.

This, Williams noted, did not take Le Repentir into consideration and no arrangements were made for those who passed away in Sophia, which was previously an agricultural community.

He said another reason was that, in 1995, five acres were set aside, a brand new road was constructed and lights were installed to aid in developing a landfill that was intended to last no more than one year.

However, instead of remaining temporary, the site is now 22 acres extending into the cemetery.

Williams announced, though, that the M&CC will finally be able to produce the new landfill at Haags Bosch, East Bank Demerara, within 10 months.

CLOSED
He added that the current one is expected to be closed at a cost of US$3,000 which is part of a loan secured for the construction of the new landfill.

Williams admitted that he felt badly last Mother’s Day and literally had to hide from people and avoid telephone callers about the burial ground when persons were seeking to visit their mothers’ graves to pay respects.

According to him, a third reason why the cemetery is like that is because some tombs, which should have been built with a certain design and quality, have not been properly constructed.

As a result, those caved in when people walked on them to find where their relatives are buried.

Before conceding the floor, Williams said: “We are not pretending that we have done the best. But the focus is on ownership and we are open to any approach. Persons who are interested in being involved in the rehabilitation of the mortuary and holding room should come forward.”

One citizen suggested that the Engineer’s Department should communicate with the prison authorities, so that prisoners who benefit from taxpayers’ money can start the works in the cemetery.

Another proposed that the two kokers along St. Stephens Street be made operational, again, to properly drain the cemetery.

One more suggestion was that more people be charged for littering and, if convicted, be made to do community service.

A representative of Lyken’s Funeral Home recommended that the mortuary building be used to hold decomposed bodies for the time being as the parlour was denied its request and people groan when they are told the fee to clean certain spots in the burial ground.

There was also a suggestion that an advisory committee of members of the public be set up after the meeting.

COMPLAINING
A spokesperson for Sandy’s Funeral Home said customers are complaining of not getting the services for which they are paying and more complaints are expected when people have to pay extra at weekends.

One other citizen called for a new, properly planned cemetery to be established as it would be unrealistic to attract significant investment at the current location.

It was also advocated that a feasibility study be undertaken and the cemetery be divided into sections when works have to be done, including spraying the bush to get rid of bees.

Before the conclusion, Jordan recalled that, previously, the cemetery had about 80 workers but there are now about 12.

He acknowledged that funding is a major concern but assured that the Engineer’s Department will commence work next week.

Jordan said, while it is true that a new cemetery is needed, the fact is that the present one cannot be closed at this point.

He said there have been some delays in sending out tenders for the mortuary and cold storage but this will resume shortly.

Williams encouraged those in attendance, who were interested in the quest, to leave their names and contact information if they wanted to be on the advisory committee that will help to address the issues.

Public Relations Officer Royston King, who chaired the proceedings, said the M&CC was not very proud of the present physical conditions and the purpose of the gathering was to solicit ideas from the public on how to improve them.

“When a loved one dies, we want to know that they are resting in peace and in an atmosphere of beauty,” he said.