THE Stabroek Business article published May 10, 2013 under the caption, “PSC, Georgetown Chambers at odds over seawall lime ban” reveals a mindset of the (GCCI) President Clinton Urling that is very troubling.

Urling is quoted as saying that “He believes the reasons given by the Works Ministry for banning the weekly Sunday evening seawall lime” were not sustainable as the issues “can be managed.” Managed by whom? Mayor and Councillors of City of Georgetown!  Please! Mr. Urling where have you been living?
It is a fact that every Sunday evening going on to the wee hours to Monday morning the seawall area is converted into a lawless party zone, where  the southern parapets of the seawall is used to house various vending activities resulting in degradation  of the grass and topsoil, exposing the concrete foundation.  This area was not built for this purpose.
It is also a fact that plastic containers and Styrofoam boxes and other non-biodegradable materials are left to clog up the drains, both on the southern side of the seawall and are also dumped on the northern side of the seawall.
Garbage is also dumped in the trench that runs parallel between the southern carriage way of the East Coast highway from Liliendaal to the western end of Subryanville, and the revetment work on the northern side of the trench running along the same distance. As a result, almost all the drains are blocked up leaving the residents of the western Liliendaal, Bel Air Springs, Bel Air Gardens and Subryanville areas vulnerable to the smallest amount of rainfall in these areas.  The playfield in Bel Air Gardens becomes a virtual garbage-made lake.
Apart from the sanitation problem, urine and faeces that are left on the parapets in Subryanville and Bel Air Gardens, there is the noise and security concerns that grip this community.  Complaints had been made public for years now, but Mr. Urling like Rip Van Winkle suddenly wakes up when profits are threatened.
Further, if Mr. Urling had checked his historical facts he would have found out that the free lime he supports originally was held on the seawall between Camp Street and where Celina Resort is located, so the minister is not reinventing the wheel but simply moving Mr. Urling’s fete to the original location.
It is a weak argument to say that there would be a loss of income to some Vendors when juxtaposed against the environmental and infrastructural concerns of the current area under flooding threat.  So it is clear that Mr. Urling is putting the profits of a few over the health and safety of a significantly large number of persons.
I cannot help but wonder if Mr. Urling’s view would have been different if the lime he supports were held in the prestigious Lamaha Avenue – Bel Park residential area, where an Urling recently acquired a posh home, or around German’s Restaurant where he conducts his business.
I am therefore voicing support to the Honourable Minister Robeson Benn for the proactive approach he has taken. I believe I speak for the overwhelming persons who live in the Liliendaal, Bel Air Springs, Bel Air Gardens, Subryanville areas, who say well done MINISTER!