Latest update April 20th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 03, 2014 News
There was some amount of commotion at Block ‘Y’ Section ‘C’ Grove New Scheme, East Bank Demerara yesterday, as residents sought to prevent officials from breaking a structure that they built for their own safety.
One resident, Bibi Alli, told Kaieteur News that about 12 years ago, community members formed a group and decided to build a wooden bridge linking their road to the Diamond Housing Scheme access road.
According to Alli, this is because the distance between the two government-funded bridges is not only lengthy, but the structure utilized by residents in her area is located in an area which is unlit and desolate, and persons are usually attacked and robbed.
She explained that after several such instances, a number of residents pooled their funds and erected a structure between the two government-funded bridges.
“It had light, and it was safer for people to cross without being robbed and so. It been there fuh so many years, and nobody had a problem with it,” Ali said.
However, yesterday, she said that a few men visited the area in a pickup truck and tractor, informing them that they have permission from the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to demolish the bridge.
Alli explained that the residents were not prepared to let the men destroy the structure, which has so far been a convenience and safety measure for hundreds of residents.
“After they come, everybody from the community came out and we started telling them no, that they can’t break the bridge, because we paid for it, we built it, and after so many years nobody had a problem with it, so why now…”
Alli said that after the residents realized that the men were not backing off, they started asking the “NDC officials” for documentation, which could prove that they were indeed authorized to demolish the structure.
However, Alli said that since the men could not produce any paperwork, residents became even more adamant not to allow them to bulldoze the wooden bridge.
“Suh dey started to become very angry and everybody just get into this really heated argument and that led to a fight and people start getting hit and a whole commotion. One ah the men even ripped open my blouse, so it was a whole nasty situation,” Alli explained.
The woman said that the police showed up upon receiving a report from an NDC worker that residents were assaulting them.
“Dey seh that we assault them, suh the police showed up and ah set of we ended up at the station.”
Alli added that upon arriving at the Golden Grove Police Station, the men who claimed that they were NDC workers withdrew their complaint, stating that the matter will be dealt with next week.
“We don’t know wha gon happen next week, but we’re determined not to allow these people to break our bridge, because we built it self help, and it serving us. It’s safer for us, and it has to say.”
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
Apr 20, 2024
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