TEMPERS flared at the community of Port Kaituma in the North West District on Tuesday after the chairman of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) decided to paint a community bus shed in the Opposition party colours.

According to residents, NDC Chair Orlando Thorne, a People’s Progressive Party (PPP) official, instructed a contractor who was renovating the bus shed to repaint the structure in red instead of blue.

Port Kaituma resident, Lex Barker told the Guyana Chronicle that the NDC formed a market committee earlier this year, and named him a representative for the vendors. Barker said he has been advocating for years for the bus shed and toilets to be repaired. “So it was agreed for the repairs and painting. And the blue it was in was agreed to after I suggested it as a neutral colour,” he said.

Thorne’s phone was turned off when attempts were made to contact him for a comment.
Reports are that on Tuesday, three NDC councillors were immediately contacted when residents observed the bus shed being repainted in red.

Reports are that when the councillors arrived at the location, the workers were immediately advised to cease work until further notice. Residents contacted Thorne and another councillor associated with the Opposition, and they both stated that they were busy. As such, the three councillors on the ground urged the contractor to cease all works being done to the bus shed.

It was noted by a councillor that the NDC has not met since January this year, and as such no decisions were made regarding projects in the community.
“The bus shed is not the property of, nor is it a donation from, the PPP; it must not be painted in any political party colours,” Barker noted.

Barker said after the councillors objected and ordered the works to be ceased, Opposition parliamentarian Colin Croal posted photographs of his car along the roadway, in a move aimed at causing him embarrassment. He noted that he saw a resident taking photographs of his place of business and his car, and he immediately realised that something was amiss.
Reports are that residents have vowed to ensure that the bus shed is repainted in blue, as was originally planned. It was noted, too, that the Officer in Charge of the Port Kaituma Police Station has been briefed on the issue, since the NDC chair plans taking matters into his own hands should anyone attempt to repaint the bus shed.

The police have informed the councillors that the lawmen will not get involved in the matter unless some breaks the law.