Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 18, 2017 Letters
DEAR EDITOR,
The Governmental sectors in Region One (Barima-Waini) as a result of being badly managed, not monitored and evaluated, continue to provide poor services to the residents. In this regard value for money is not being respected.
The Geographic distance from the Barima-Waini region to Georgetown, poor leadership and representation, are reasons why government officers do as they like in providing poor services to North West District (NWD) residents, since they have no one in authority to complain to.
Hence, the importance and reliability of sessions of the media which residents desperately need for their concerns and problems to venture into the public domain, so that all Guyanese can know the “hell” that they are going through as a result of the poor services provided by government officers.
The Mabaruma Hospital, even though it has five doctors, continues to provide poor health services to the Mabaruma sub-region residents. When they show up at the hospital from at least 8:30 am they have to wait until 3 pm before they can see a doctor.
When a resident tells the doctor he has terrible back-pains, the doctor responds “you old man, that is why you getting back pain”. The resident is sent away back to his community without being medically checked. Another resident told the doctor that he is unable to pass water, the doctor responded “go home and sit down in a drum of hot water”. The resident was turned away without being medically examined.
Mabaruma residents do want to know if the doctors at the Mabaruma Hospital are authentic There is still an ongoing shortage of drugs, according to residents. I made contact with the Regional Health Officer on this matter, but he denied it. But if this is so, then what is happening to the drugs?
The youths of Mabaruma are desperately in need of a youth centre. They claim that Mabaruma is now a town and that they have nowhere to conduct their indoor activities such as training. Residents have alleged that a building in the township was identified to be a youth centre. This building was renovated, but it will be used as an office for the Regional Democratic Council.
Residents are highly concerned over this and are demanding that the Regional Executive Officer urgently construct a youth centre for Mabaruma youths so that their leisure time can be positively spent.
Youth development is badly needed at Mabaruma, but this is being ignored by the relevant government authorities. But is a Mabaruma youth centre catered for in the 2018 National budget? If not, Mabaruma Youths are still not being recognized.
The Mabaruma residents are concerned over the mayor and town council operations, which are deemed to not be of a standard to transform Mabaruma into a real township. The residents are claiming that work is going at a snail’s pace, since while the vendors tarmac is being completed it cannot be occupied, because huge piles of garbage are now being deposited there, covered by a blue tarpaulin.
Residents are of the opinion that if the mayor is unable to do his work then he should humbly resign.
The Mabaruma radio station is poorly managed and does not have announcers or broadcasters and radio programmes. Currently, a technician is the radio announcer, according to residents. Can NCN radio intervene to give respectability to Radio Mabaruma?
The region one education department needs an overhaul. There is a breakdown of discipline and moral standards in the school system. The Wauna and Mabaruma secondary schools are typical examples. This shows that education development is not going anywhere in the Barima-Waini region.
The Barabina community residents are still hoping and praying that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure fixes their swamped access road. Currently they are in the “dark” where this is concerned. But the residents are of the opinion that a well construed bridge should be built instead. The Ministry should consider this. The Wauna road continues to be in terrible state. According to information, the road is catered for in the 2018 budget. But residents are still wondering when their road will be fixed? No one is telling them anything.
Barima-Waini workers are being exploited by both the Public and Private sectors. They are even wrongfully dismissed from their jobs. The Ministry of Labour needs to decentralize their operations in Guyana’s hinterland region. At least it should have a labour office stationed in region one (Barima-Waini) – well equipped to deal with labour exploitation.
The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission office at Mabaruma needs to be urgently investigated by its head office in Georgetown. There are serious allocation issues. This is also happening at Port Kaituma. The village council in Baramita has collapsed and its office has been continuously locked. As a result, lawlessness has swamped the village, even though a police station is there. In my opinion, the police officers need to be removed.
Gold miners are building roads from Baramita village to the Venezuelan boarder which pose a national security risk to our country. The miners conduct mining activities on village lands without permission. The mines officers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission do not care.
Sexual molestation of Amerindian women and young girls is prevalent, but no one in authority cares. There is an urgent need for the construction of a health centre to replace the “shack” that is being used as a health centre. Baramita’s residents are of the opinion that their village is treated as though it is not part of Guyana.
In Port Kaituma, law enforcement is carried out at the pleasure of police officers. They do not respond to emergency calls by residents. They also need to be removed. Police officers serving in Guyana’s hinterland regions should do so on a rotational basis for the avoidance of complacency and lawlessness.
Peter Persaud
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
Apr 19, 2024
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