CRIMINALS have capitalized on the darkness, hiding themselves among bushes that line parts of the roadways and launching attacks on residents – including children – some of

whom have become silent victims of rape.

This tale of Bare Root was related to the Guyana Chronicle as we stood with some of the unfortunate ones way down Grant Road on atrociously rough grounds and roadways
Grant Road was named after Guyana’s internationally acclaimed superstar Eddy Grant, who once lived at the head of the street in Bachelors’ Adventure, East Coast Demerara.. But contrary to what the name suggests experiences on that particular lane are far from those expected on a superstar’s street.

Residents pray for a visit from President David Granger and Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, so they can understand exactly what they are experiencing.

Experiences in Bare Root are worse than can be related or implied. Lack of functional street lights coupled with roads in disrepair which drivers refuse to traverse
“We are asking if some additional help can be given where street lights are concerned because being in the dark it’s not nice and it’s not safe,” Odama Siland told the Guyana Chronicle.

Her daughter, 10-year-old Esther, was thankful that their plight would finally be highlighted with the hope of action being taken. The child said it was difficult and scary at nights.

Residents of the village, particularly those on Grant Road, told the Chronicle some of the perpetrators are strangers to the village, who would visit and wait in the dark to attack.
“I remember early last year, there were persons who used to come and actually secure themselves in the dark to attack people who normally come in late at nights. Some persons have loads, they have children and it is very dangerous especially at nights. It’s very dangerous… persons have been raped, some persons would have gotten robbed…all because of the poor lighting facility that they have,” the woman related.

While a few residents install their own street lights, others cannot afford and the lighting is not sufficient to cover the entire area.
When the newspaper visited the area, lamp poles were observed leaning dangerously in the direction of several residences. Another resident Linsay Siland pointed out that the poles were eaten by wood ants and posed a dangerous threat to people’s homes as well as those traversing the roadways.

“The posts are almost falling, most of them… those persons lives are in danger because if there is a storm or a heavy wind at any time that post can fall,” she said.
Residents fear electrocution, electrical fires, damage to their appliances and destruction of their homes and are crying for swift help.
“A few (lights) along the road – that will help to eliminate a certain amount of fear from villagers, and even eliminate these attackers who will come and seclude themselves in the dark. So we’re asking if anything can be done about it to help enhance the community,” Odama Siland pleaded.

With frequent torrential rain, managing the bushes along the roadways is a monumental task as they quickly grow again after being cut down. Floodwaters are quick to creep onto home compounds and just last month had risen knee height in Middle Street. Alligators and snakes are often spotted and drive fear into the hearts of residents there.
“For quite some time we haven’t received much help… but we would normally try to do our own little cleaning. There are alligators that would normally come out in the nights and it’s not safe for the children neither adults.”

A distance away, a few adults gathered some downs (a small fruit) scattered in a yard and nearby trench, and further along the miserable thoroughfare a man grazed cows and the absence of vehicles travelling there couldn’t go unnoticed.
A nursery school child appeared afraid and was in tears walking home while cows grazed Grant Road. grazing.

Samantha, another resident expressed concern about animals grazing in residential compounds and along the streets even as individuals traverse those very streets to go about their daily routines.
“People have a lot of animals and no fixed place for them to graze,” the woman said.
As she pointed to a narrow bridge linking Bare Root and Dazzell Housing Scheme, the woman explained that though the bridge was lately constructed it was being damaged due to the animals’ constant crossings.

There was a man doing construction work in the area. He stopped to tell the Chronicle of the need for a grazing field or pasture for animals.
“Long ago it was so developed they used to use up the lots to feed but as people take up the house lots their space becomes smaller.”
Two families not far away from where he worked each had some 30 to 40 cows but no proper grazing ground. The animals mostly go into empty lots in Bare Root and in Dazzell Housing Scheme, and many times would be the center of heated conflicts.

Farmlands are hardly available and while some residents are able to maintain a productive kitchen garden, no one can benefit from medium to large scale farming.
Already construction of homes has been a challenge to many in the low-income community and quite few empty lots remain jammed with bushes while some houses remain halfway built – testimony to the fact that funds are hard to access, as one resident confessed.
“This is a low-income area, so it’s strenuous on persons to actually occupy these house lots and complete the buildings. We have space over there, there are persons who occupy these lands but they’re not doing anything,” one resident expressed.

She called for a playground for children and expressed concern about occasional conflicts experienced by Bare Root children who have to venture across to neighbouring Enterprise for schooling.
“I would really appreciate that the relevant authorities look into this and do something about it so we can be a comfortable people,” the Bare Root woman said.