FOLLOWING the attack on businessman Satran Sukhdeo by two men with firearms on December 27 last, when he was shot, residents are calling on the relevant bodies to urgently address the issue of abandoned houses and vacant lots with thick overgrowth in Block 8, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, the residents said that the vacant lots and abandoned houses in the area serve as a safe haven for unsavory persons who pose a threat.
The residents said further that the ‘hiding’ places are also used by various persons to monitor the movements of home owners.
On December 27, Sukhdeo exchanged fire with two bandits who had waited in one of the empty lots and pounced on him as he exited his yard. His two sons were also in the yard with him at the time but luckily none of them was hurt.
Sukhdeo told investigators that he believed that he was able to hit one of the men and the other one fled the area.

Meanwhile, the residents were critical of the police over their handling of the matter since according to one person, it was only a few days ago that ranks from the very station district had approached the man requesting assistance for a social. However, when the incident occurred and calls were made to the very station, the ranks there claimed to have no knowledge of the direction to the man’s home.
When this newspaper visited the location on Monday the overgrowth stood almost seven and eight feet tall in empty lands between houses, even as unfinished homes and abandoned wooden structures were evident on some of the vacant lands.
The residents are calling on the Neighbourhood Democratic Council to enforce the bylaws to ensure that the areas are kept in an acceptable manner and that property owners control the growth of vegetation on the unoccupied lands.
The residents also lamented the fact that they have young children living in the area, especially girls, and they would not want to have their children fall prey to persons who conceal themselves in the bushes and abandoned buildings.