Dear Editor,

I am a television host on TTS Ch5 Bartica. My programme ‘The Peoples Voice’ is aired every Sunday evening from 5.30 to 6.30 pm. My logo is ‘Your Partner In Defence of the Environment’. Citizens usually call in and air their views.

Most of the calls are based on:

1. GWI: Poor and rusty water supply most times and poor accountability of water rates collected. Some pensioners are still paying for water.

2. Cows, donkeys, horses, roam freely in the community. They usually disrupt traffic and animal droppings on the roads are messy and smelly.

3. First Avenue is too narrow. Two cars have to slow down to pass and to be very careful they do not hit pedestrians. First Avenue needs paving for pedestrians.

4. Citizens need more training on garbage disposal and the authorities need to get their act together.

5. The abattoir needs moving because animal blood flushes overboard and piranha and reptiles feed on the blood, guts and skins that are dumped overboard. The EPA must investigate this unhealthy and dangerous practice.

Late at nights, boats usually arrive behind the abattoir with cows and slaughtered meat in buckets, which will be delivered to persons to sell very cheap. Is this meat being inspected?

Around October 7, a cow that was slaughtered was diagnosed with rabies. A leg was destroyed. Where is the rest of the carcass? Consumed by residents maybe? Parts of cows float up on beaches around Bartica on a regular basis. Is there another abattoir?

Visitors may see First Avenue with clean roads and drains but this is because the business people in First Avenue keep it clean.

Lastly, Mr Minister of Health, please get our operating theatre at the Bartica hospital working and provide doctors to perform surgery. Too many of our people from Bartica go to Georgetown for surgery and die.

Yours faithfully,

Winston Miller