During outreach…
THE operations of the Community Development Council (CDC) at Saxacalli, Essequibo River, are to undergo a close examination in another few weeks, according to Parliamentary Representative, Ms. Bibi Shadick.
She said the decision was taken following concerns expressed by residents last Sunday, during a community outreach she led, including Chairman of Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands), Mr. Julius Faerber; Vice-Chairman, Mr. Manpersaud and Regional Coordinator, Agriculture, Mr. Brijesh Singh.
In the meantime, an interim management committee (IMC) has been appointed to mange the affairs of the community. It comprises Mr. Rupert Kaiser, Mr. Dereck James, Ms. Molly Williams, Ms. Helen Williams, Ms. Sandra Jones and Ms. Pamela Kaiser.
Some of the issues raised at the Sunday forum included the prevalence of ‘dry down’ disease, acoushi ants, national identification (ID) cards, birth certificates and furniture.
About the disease, Singh explained that farmers need to incorporate a variety of cultural/quarantine measures, accompanied by a rigid spray programme to effectively manage the problem.
He said the Ministry of Agriculture is doing all it can to assist in the process.
Acoushi ants bait was distributed to farmers and they were advised to use a scientific programme to control the pest and undertake fogging exercises.
Regarding ID cards, residents were reminded of the continuous registration exercise that is ongoing at various centres and that thousands of the documents are still to be uplifted.
Faerber said those who did not collect theirs must visit Parika Marketing Centre where they can also make corrections until December 31, 2010.
After birth certificate forms were handed out and filled, Shadick said, despite late registration, the Registrar General’s Office is mandated to process the applications and she assured residents that their certificates must be posted to their homes.
Meanwhile, another outreach was conducted at Fort Island the same day, at which the concerns raised included overtopping at the sea defence, floods, drainage, health post, sanitary block at school, rehabilitation works on the headteacher’s quarters and the current state of the ferry stelling.
Faerber gave the assurance that rehabilitation works on the health post and the headteacher’s quarters would be undertaken in the very near future and pointed out that, as the Government’s policy is to do away with pit latrines, a new sanitary block would be constructed shortly.
Acknowledging the need for a better drainage system, Manpersaud said the physical layout of the community is an impediment to machines and suggested that manual labour might be a better option.
Regarding the Fort Island stelling, Shadick said the matter will be raised with the subject Minister and Faerber announced that a critical section of the sea defence is already the subject of an advertised tender.