By Ravin Singh

The GUYANA Nation Building Corps – one of the groups contesting the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) has designed its plans to ensure that communities in and around Georgetown are safe, smart and sustainable should its candidates be elected to serve as councilors.Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle recently, Louis Nestor, the First-Past-the-Post candidate competing for Constituency four, noted that this area has been plagued with social ills due to the inaction by the last council and central government. Constituency four comprises communities within the parameters of Lamaha Canal to Lamaha Street and Vlissengen Road to the eastern highway.
He explained that the constituency which has five wards is comprised primarily of working class residents who have been affected negatively by the lack of regular cleaning in the area. This, coupled with the lack of street lighting, which has resulted in petty crimes has contributed to the devaluing of property in the area. As it relates to recreational facilities, he expressed the view that there is an absence of community centres and playgrounds in the constituency and those which are within the area have been used as dumpsites while some people have used these lands to build private property.
And having discussed the issue of recreational facilities with residents his intention is to develop new community grounds and improve those which have been neglected. “We want them to be for everyone” he said, adding that community centres should be multipurpose in nature.
Nestor also highlighted that some other major issues include overgrown bushes; the erection of bridges over canals without dredging; people are rendering walkways inaccessible; concrete slabs being built to prevent flooding; and the non-compliance with zoning codes. Should he be elected to office, the Nation Building Corps representative will be committed to ensuring that these issues are examined immediately.
But the need for recreational facilities is not limited to constituency four, Feubia Jarvis-Montfort – running candidate for Constituency 13 interjected. Representing the Guyana Nation Building Corps also, she noted that there is need for at least community centres in her area. And these should be designed to offer technical classes for youths who are not academically inclined, she added.
“As a resident, I would like the residents to know that we cannot depend on the city council for everything. We have to plan to generate funds in the community” she said. Regarding health, Jarvis-Montfort related that “junkies” in the neighbourhoods are perhaps the biggest contributing factor to an unhealthy environment. This is because they often dispose of garbage at illegal dumpsites and in waterways, which contributes to flooding and breeding of mosquitoes.
And because of the constituency being “festered with squatters”, she revealed that this has led to the absence of a market in the area. Further, she noted that crime has been high in these “depressed communities” in the constituency due to the easy accessibility of alcohol and drugs. “These ought to be regulated and barriers need to be put in place to disallow children from accessing these substances which contribute negatively to their young lives. And once elected, I will ensure that this happen through proper enforcement of the laws” she told this publication.
A reoccurring feature, security deficiencies was again raised by Dr Dawn Cynthia Stewart who is running for constituency eight (Wortmanville, Newburg Stabroek Werk-en-Rust). She expressed the view that the responsibility of security should not be limited to the police force but needs collaboration with residents who play a pivotal role in this regard. “We have to form home owners groups and we can police these very communities” she opined.
And after-school activities are just as important, she said, adding that this is where the need for community centres comes in. But these wouldn’t serve to benefit only children an youths. She offered that the elderly are often “shut in” and not able to be actively involved in life process when they are at a certain age, and so a space must be created for them to be integrated.
To support the idea of a healthy lifestyle, she further noted that the recreational facilities must be complemented with health centres. These, she stated, should target preventative measures and regularly engage citizens on health issues.
Constituency nine’s candidate, Martin Gaul did not highlight health as a major concern in his area, but noted that improper social and environmental practices have led to the deterioration of his constituency.
First was the issue of drainage which has tremendously affected his area. Gaul noted that due to the build-up of silt in drains, and concrete bottoms being erected, water has not been able to flow freely. And this has resulted in increased mosquitoes which have contributed to the spread of diseases. “Lodge was even once nicknamed mosquito paradise by the people in that area” he said.
And while there is an urgent need to address this, he touched on the lack of street lighting which is also in urgent need to implementation. The streets too, where the lights are to be installed needs paving, he said, adding that if he is elected to office, he will ensure that there is an access road from Meadowbrook to Tucville.
Apart from the rhetoric of enhancing communities physically, Gaul disclosed that his aim is also to empower people in the communities so there would also be human resource capacity to tackle some of these very issues. This must be supported by job and wealth creation, from support by the business community, he said. “Businesses have a social obligation they (businesses) are aware and will be happy to help develop community since they benefit from these development” Gaul said.
Attempt will also be made by him, should he be elected to office, to eradicate the use of drugs in this area. Energies will then be directed towards involving the community to mold youths since this is the culture that local government creates.