….residents call for investigation into missing toll gate funds

RESIDENTS of Port Kaituma, on Wednesday, welcomed the repainting of a bus shed and the community’s toll gate in a neutral colour.

On Tuesday, tempers flared at the North West District community after the chairman of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Orlando Thorne, instructed a contractor to repaint the two facilities in red, the colours of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party.
On Wednesday, government Member of Parliament (MP), Richard Allen told the Guyana Chronicle that the authorities handed over several gallons of blue paint which was used to repaint the two structures.
It was noted by a councillor on Tuesday that the NDC has not met since January this year, and as such no decisions were made regarding projects in the community. As such, Thorne’s decision saw persons in the area objecting to the move.
“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,” resident and market committee representative, Lex Barker noted.

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.
Meanwhile, residents called for an investigation into the financial management of the toll gate, which is located on the periphery of the community. At the gate, motorists using the roadway which connects the mining community with Matthew’s Ridge and several other mining areas, pay a fee and according to residents, that facility is clouded with fraudulent activities.

They noted that the PPP members dominate the NDC’s make-up and friends and relatives of the party officials manage the toll gate. Vehicles, such as trucks, pay as much as $75,000 per trip when using the roadway.

Reports are that there are no accounting systems in place at the NDC to account for the millions of dollars in revenue which the NDC earns from the toll gate.
The Guyana Chronicle understands that the NDC is in the process of implementing a book-keeping system to trace the millions of dollars earned this year by the community from the toll gate.