PNCR injunction against NDC cause for bad road conditions in Diamond – Minister Whittaker tells residents
Georgetown, GINA, January 19, 2012
Source - GINA
Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Norman Whittaker with some residents of Times Square Street, Grove
Residents of Diamond/Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara were this evening apprised that the reason why Avenue A Street, Great Diamond is in such a deplorable condition is because of a PNCR injunction against the rehabilitation of the area’s Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) office which is tied to a bigger venture, the Community Road Improvement project ( CRIP).
Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Norman Whittaker said that Avenue A Street, Great Diamond that gained front page prominence in today’s Kaieteur News because of its condition would have been rehabilitated had it not been for the PNC/R injunction against the rehabilitation of the NDC office.
Minister Whittaker made these remarks to residents as he and officers from the ministry along with officials of the Grove/Diamond NDC conducted a walk about in the two villages this afternoon.
Whittaker told the residents that Avenue A Street is one of 12 roads that are to be rehabilitated under CRIP but a mandate of the Government of Guyana, Caribbean Development Bank project is that the work on the streets must be done in conjunction with the rehabilitation of the Grove/Diamond NDC building and that this was being impeded following the PNC injunction against the construction on the grounds that the building belongs to them.
“The PNC has opportunely claimed that the NDC building is theirs and that is a matter before the courts, so it is impeding the kind of works that we would like to do in the area,” Whittaker said.
He added that, “in the mean time people are suffering and naturally we are concerned, naturally we want this road done tomorrow, but we have to await the results of that court case.”
Minister Whittaker expressed the hope that, “the PNC will withdraw its injunction so that work to rehabilitate the NDC office and build the over 4000 metres of roads in the Grove/Diamond area can take place.”
Minister Whittaker and team at Avenue Street A, Great Diamond
Apart from the conditions of the streets, another concern was that of street lights as some residents claim that they had taken the initiative to put up street lights but they were removed by the Guyana Power and Light. The residents were advised that they could not, without the permission of the NDC, erect street lights and this may be the reason why the GPL personnel dismantled the lights as the NDC office would have to pay the cost of electricity.
The residents were told that those wishing to have street lights must form themselves into groups and make proper representation to the NDC office, which would subsequent apply and pay for the service and residents will in turn pay the NDC.
There were also complaints about clogged drains and residents were told that work to relieve this situation was underway.
Residents were also informed that all complaints pertaining to garbage collection will be resolved following interventions made in this regards to have timely and scheduled garbage collection days for specific areas.
Residents on the different streets were prior notified of the specific areas’ garbage collection days. Likewise residents of Grove who complained of the narrow and rickety bridges situated over the Jimbo Canal that allows their children access to the Golden Grove Primary was promised that the ministry will facilitate a larger structure designed only for pedestrian use.
Georgetown, GINA, January 19, 2012
Source - GINA
Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Norman Whittaker with some residents of Times Square Street, GroveResidents of Diamond/Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara were this evening apprised that the reason why Avenue A Street, Great Diamond is in such a deplorable condition is because of a PNCR injunction against the rehabilitation of the area’s Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) office which is tied to a bigger venture, the Community Road Improvement project ( CRIP).
Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Norman Whittaker said that Avenue A Street, Great Diamond that gained front page prominence in today’s Kaieteur News because of its condition would have been rehabilitated had it not been for the PNC/R injunction against the rehabilitation of the NDC office.
Minister Whittaker made these remarks to residents as he and officers from the ministry along with officials of the Grove/Diamond NDC conducted a walk about in the two villages this afternoon.
Whittaker told the residents that Avenue A Street is one of 12 roads that are to be rehabilitated under CRIP but a mandate of the Government of Guyana, Caribbean Development Bank project is that the work on the streets must be done in conjunction with the rehabilitation of the Grove/Diamond NDC building and that this was being impeded following the PNC injunction against the construction on the grounds that the building belongs to them.
“The PNC has opportunely claimed that the NDC building is theirs and that is a matter before the courts, so it is impeding the kind of works that we would like to do in the area,” Whittaker said.
He added that, “in the mean time people are suffering and naturally we are concerned, naturally we want this road done tomorrow, but we have to await the results of that court case.”
Minister Whittaker expressed the hope that, “the PNC will withdraw its injunction so that work to rehabilitate the NDC office and build the over 4000 metres of roads in the Grove/Diamond area can take place.”
Minister Whittaker and team at Avenue Street A, Great DiamondApart from the conditions of the streets, another concern was that of street lights as some residents claim that they had taken the initiative to put up street lights but they were removed by the Guyana Power and Light. The residents were advised that they could not, without the permission of the NDC, erect street lights and this may be the reason why the GPL personnel dismantled the lights as the NDC office would have to pay the cost of electricity.
The residents were told that those wishing to have street lights must form themselves into groups and make proper representation to the NDC office, which would subsequent apply and pay for the service and residents will in turn pay the NDC.
There were also complaints about clogged drains and residents were told that work to relieve this situation was underway.
Residents were also informed that all complaints pertaining to garbage collection will be resolved following interventions made in this regards to have timely and scheduled garbage collection days for specific areas.
Residents on the different streets were prior notified of the specific areas’ garbage collection days. Likewise residents of Grove who complained of the narrow and rickety bridges situated over the Jimbo Canal that allows their children access to the Golden Grove Primary was promised that the ministry will facilitate a larger structure designed only for pedestrian use.
