NDC making strides to improve lives of community members

CHAIRMAN of the Mocha-Arcadia Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Rudolph Adams, said that at the NDC level, continuous strides are being made to empower women in Mocha-Arcadia, East Bank Demerara.

With 50 percent of residents engaged in agriculture as part of their livelihood, they saw the need to make single parents and young adults entrepreneurs.

Adams told the Pepperpot Magazine that through the Caribbean Local Economic Development (CARILED) project, the youths and single parents were encouraged to tap into the market project in which 40 stalls have been constructed for use.

However, only 10 are being utilised by all female vendors, in an effort to rid the village of roadside vending and to restore some form of order when it comes to street vending.

Adams stated that five young men and women also underwent life skills training and they have since established their small businesses.

He reported that a young lady has a successful weekend pastry business at the Mocha-Arcadia market and another has started poultry rearing.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The NDC official told the Pepperpot Magazine that these self-employed persons received initial finances plus money to set up their businesses through the CARILED project.

Adams added that in their security initiative project more youths, especially school drop-outs between the ages of 15 to 35, were targeted and benefitted from life skills training.

And today, some of them have become successful entrepreneurs, manning their own businesses right in the community.

Adams said, “We wanted the young people to have something to do in their spare time, so we have an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hub, which is housed in the community centre and is outfitted with 20 computers from the E-Government project; but there is an issue with internet connectivity.”

He related that from the time the President David Granger-led administration took office, they have seen significant improvements in the community, such as new roads which were previously neglected, dilapidated bridges being re-built and other infrastructural developments.

The NDC official said in terms of development, they have made great strides and they are most pleased about having more access to the various ministries and ministers.

“We are no longer stymied, because we have access to ministers and our concerns are being addressed and it is due to Local Government Elections (LGEs),” Adams said.

He stated that they are seeking to have the land tenure matter resolved, so that squatting areas will be regularised, as well as farmlands within the village.

“There is still the fear among the villagers that the farmlands would be flooded yet again and because of that concern, many have not been fully utilising the RAID project. We are in a basin so it is easily flooded during the rainy season and folks do not want to suffer any loss as it regards to farming,” he said.

Adams disclosed that although they do not have pilfering as a widespread problem in Mocha-Arcadia, the drug issue remains in which illicit drugs are being sold in the village.

TACKLING DRUG USE

With more than 4,000 residents, he said the issue of drug use is of great concern to the NDC and they have initiated a programme with ranks from the Mocha-Arcadia Police Outpost to be present at every statutory meeting to listen to the concerns raised by residents.

In addition, Adams pointed out that at the NDC Social Committee level, they are in the process of setting up a programme in schools to educate students as to the dangers of using illicit substances.

He added that they are aware that illegal drugs are being sold right in the village and have since pinpointed the culprits, but nothing has been done to those persons, because when the cops make an arrest, folks do not want to come forward and give evidence.

Adams reported that owing to the lack of evidence, the police cannot charge the suspected drug peddlers in the community.

He said, “From time to time, we experience minor thefts, but it is not any everyday occurrence, because there is only one access road that leads to and from the village, so everyone is fully aware of the consequences.”

Adams however, noted that recently they have received some reports of some cattle belonging to villagers ending up in a newly established slaughter house in the village.

He stated that although the operation is legal, they have since learnt that the operators are buying cattle on the ‘black market’ and some people are not happy about losing their cattle in that manner.

Adams said cows are being slaughtered, and the meat is sold within the village. The operators have since agreed to repay the owner of one of the slaughtered cows.