–recall years of neglect under APNU+AFC

By Bebi Shafeah Oosman
ONCE considered a firm APNU+AFC stronghold, the community of Tannery in New Amsterdam is now throwing its support behind the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), citing long awaited development and an end to years of neglect.

Residents said their decision to back the PPP/C government is based on tangible improvements to their quality of life that only began after the party returned to office in 2020.
For decades, the people of Tannery were plagued by inadequate infrastructure, poor water access, and the absence of electricity issues which went unaddressed under the previous APNU+AFC administration.

That changed when PPP/C Regional Vice Chairman, Zamal Hussain, visited the area over two years ago.
His visit marked the beginning of an aggressive push for development, including road construction, water access upgrades, and most recently, the extension of electricity to the community.
Works are currently ongoing to connect Tannery to the national GPL grid; this is a move residents said is “long overdue.”

“We now get proper roads, water, and light coming soon. This is what we were begging for, and finally, we’re seeing it happen under the PPP/C,” one resident stated.
Residents also claimed that their electricity connection was deliberately stalled due to interference.

They alleged that the APNU+AFC-led New Amsterdam Mayor and Town Council insisted that residents pay $800,000 in full for their house lots before any progress could be made on power supply.

However, several residents said that councillors attached to the same council were allowed to purchase lots for a mere $80,000.
Now, with visible results under the PPP/C and what they describe as years of broken promises under APNU+AFC, Tannery residents are ready to make their voices heard in the upcoming elections.

The shift in political support from Tannery adds to the growing list of communities across Region Six where the PPP/C has made inroads, largely due to its track record of delivering on development and addressing long-standing concerns.

Hussain, during a meeting with residents on Sunday evening in response to the community’s show of support, stated “The people of Tannery are finally being treated with the dignity they deserve. Development must be inclusive… This is the PPP/C’s promise, and we intend to keep delivering.”

Anthony De’guair stated, “We get the road under PPP government, we get water under PPP government and now we getting the lights, we thank Mr Hussain and Mr Irfaan Ali for what they doing for us, and we wish that we can get more and better more, right now we deh under the (APNU+AFC) council and they ain’t doing nothing for us.”
He continued, “We are very thankful for Mr Irfaan Ali and Bharrat Jagdeo doing for us.”

Describing the community as once “bush and swamp”, De’guair said, “Nobody never know people living at the back here because council always get we under them foot and never bring nothing to us, now when we bring in PPP people, under PPP/C government the place gets recognise that people living at the back here.”

Beverly Meyers, who has lived at the location for over 22 years said, “The place was bare mud, bare mud, we na had no water or road, and now we get everything and I just want thank the government for what they doing for us at the back here.”

Another resident, Kippie Dennis, said that now receiving electricity is a major development, “the main thing is that the children will get to do their homework and everything.”
He said, “It is unfair how them treating we, them want we pay hundreds of thousands and them council people paying $40,000 and $80,000.”

According to Dennis, “APNU was in government five years and them never come and check us out at the back here, PPP come in and we tell them we need water and light and them give we water, light and road, and is na now it start but all the time it going on cause watch we road done build and everything, we done get water and we getting light now.”