RESIDENTS of Roxanne Burnham Gardens in South Georgetown are up in arms with the Georgetown Municipality after a parcel of land identified as a model in government’s “green agenda” in the city, was reportedly sold by the council to a businessman.

According to the residents, sometime last week, they were made aware by persons selling along the roadway near Mandela Avenue, in the vicinity of the Dynasty Night Club, that a businessman who operates a food business close to the East La Penitence Police Station, had removed two signs which were placed on the parcel of land by two entities including a private school in the area.

Deputy Mayor Akeem Peter, however, told the Guyana Chronicle that the specific plot of land adjoins another which has been upgraded by the council. He said that a group of individuals approached the council with a plan to set-up a food-trailer business which will see children from the community benefiting from the project. He said the group plans to ensure the general maintenance of the area.

He said that the green-light was given on those grounds, and according to him, he is familiar with the group of residents’ qualms. However, he said that the plot of land belongs to the council.

Spokesperson for the residents’ group, Juliet Julian, told the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday that no one was selling on the spot after the council decided to place barricades around the plot of land soon after the May 2015 elections. She said recently the businessman called her and mentioned his intentions to set-up a business but she noted that after she informed him of the group’s ongoing plans for the area, he was adamant that he will be placing a food court there.

“The thing about it is that he said he is enhancing the area , we don’t see that as enhancing, selling bar-b-que chicken isn’t enhancing this area , we worked hard along with the city council to enhance this area,” she said.

She noted that the adjoining plot of land which the council converted into a playfield and which is now utilised daily by residents, especially children, was once earmarked for sale to a businessman several years ago but the residents fought against such moves. The group noted that the businessman moved the signs last Friday morning in order to place a

container on the plot of land. Residents said they spoke to Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and a councillor who represents the area on the issue, but according to them both officials noted that they cannot do anything about the move.

“They can’t do anything about it but we know we can do something about it. We plan to stop it,” Julian said, noting that the group is awaiting a call from the mayor for a meeting. She said that if nothing is done at the level of the council, “we will take this at a higher level”.

Residents noted that in addition to the planned business defeating the purpose of beautification, the specific plot of land lies between two busy corners, less than 30 feet in width and which are usually busy almost daily, since motorists use the roadways to enter and exit South Ruimveldt Gardens and Roxanne Burnham Gardens. “We will ensure he does not put up his business on our green space,” a resident noted. “We have a green space and we need to keep that green space,” a former councillor declared as the group debated their next move.