REO issued cease-work order on own authority
Region Four Chairman Clement Corlette says that Regional Executive Officer Shafdar Ali’s order for works to cease filling a trench at Plaisance was issued without consulting other officers of the region.
However, Ali told Stabroek News that as the administrative officer of the region he had the authority to stop work at any level if it was affecting residents in any way.
Ali said that the stop-order he issued through the Plaisance NDC was a temporary one and that an investigation would have to be carried out to determine whether the man had been given permission and if so from whom. He said too that he was yet to see any relevant documents to show the individual had been given permission or had requested that the NDC procure such for him if it existed. He reiterated that the drain should not have been filled and also that permission should have been given by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).
Stabroek News contacted the NDIA office and was told by an engineer that they would visit the area and “check out the problem.” The engineer said that the NDIA would not normally get involved in these matters except in cases where drainage in the major canals for which they are responsible was affected.
Meanwhile, Corlette told Stabroek News on Saturday, that he had visited the worksite some two weeks ago and had spoken to the man responsible for filling the trench. He said that the “developer” had shown him a letter from the Ministry of Public Works granting the man permission and another signed by NDC Chairman Clinton Rellox saying that he had no objections to the proposed work. Rellox had told this newspaper earlier that he had nothing to do with the project and was not aware of where or who the man had got permission from. When contacted yesterday he acknowledged that he had indeed signed such a letter since the man had already received permission from the Public Works Ministry. When put to him that the NDC should never have allowed this in their jurisdiction, Rellox said that the authorities above him had ignored protocol and should have inquired from the NDC and residents whether the decision to give the man permission would have any negative effects.
Additionally, efforts made last week and yesterday to get a comment from public works proved futile. Stabroek News was informed earlier that the individual who would be able to comment on the issue was out of town last week, and yesterday he could not be reached at his office.
Corlette explained that the permission letters dated back to 2005 when the man had originally planned to begin the project. However financial and other reasons, including objections from some residents, had seen the project stalled for a while. Corlette said that in view of no ‘formal’ complaints from the residents or the NDC, and no legal withdrawal of the plans the man would have been given the go-ahead.
Corlette further said that the individual was in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency, while engineers from the Ministry of Public Works were to make checks to ensure that he was following stipulated protocols. He added that the trench “leads nowhere” and filling it would not hamper drainage in any way.
He said that some residents had spoken to him “informally” and stated their concern about the man building a wash bay, which would contribute to more water in an area that is already prone to flooding in the rainy season. Corlette said that the developer had given assurances that he would put systems in place to ensure no extra water from his establishment remained lodged in the area.
The other complaint that residents had was that the wash bay would be in close proximity to a church, but again Corlette said that no “formal complaints” had been raised by the residents.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, Corlette said that he would be issuing an official statement on the issue today and would also be sending a letter to Ali. He reiterated that he had not been consulted in the move to stop the works, and that Ali went about doing so by “word of mouth,” since no formal letter had been sent to the NDC. He said too that in his opinion the NDC should not have stopped the man’s work but should have inquired as to whether it was a collaborative order instead of one coming from the REO only.
In the meantime, Ali said that he did not know what the Regional Chairman considered “formal complaints,” but the calls he had received from concerned citizens should suffice for action to be taken.
no one is above the law.
you need the land then build a concrete tube so that there will be an outlet for the drainage of the water. one that is big enough to do the job.
What did Santayana say, those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it? January 2005 was so loooooong ago. Let us continue to fill up the waterways! We don’t have enough land in Guyana to put down our businesses.
Whilst we are about it, why don’t we sell some liquor and cutters at the wash bay so we can be gainfully occupied while the vehicle is being washed. Church? Oil slick in the trench? What are those?
I cringe at the things that we allow to happen. Does it mean anything to anyone that a stone’s throw from this car wash and just outside that church is posted the names of the slaves who bought Plaisance? Where is our reverence? Where is our pride? Where is ACDA?
So once again I say: those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
I hope good sense prevail and allow this developer to continue his work,i live in Better Hope and i know the area where the trench are,they are already three trenches next to that one,so by filling that one wouldn’t cause any damage to the area,and besides the developer says he would put systems in place to make sure that a safe and clean enviroment exist,don’t let a few disgruntled residents stop progress in the area.The last time I went home and visited Plaisance,i saw a lot of youths liming on the streets,bridges and gambling,this new development would create employment in the area.
rdman,
It is easy for you to stand on the outside and say let the development continue. You don’t have to take off your shoes and roll up your pants to get into you home.
If good sense should prevail the development could continue, but the trench would not be filled. It would cost the developer more, but the community less.
The real issue is not only about this development; it is also about the way officials that have been put in place to protect the interest of the people have failed yet again to execute their duties in a professional manner or should I say execute their duties.
“Corlette further said that the individual was in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency, while engineers from the Ministry of Public Works were to make checks to ensure that he was following stipulated protocols. He added that the trench “leads nowhere” and filling it would not hamper drainage in any way.”
Mr. Corlette, it is not a trench it is a reservoir it is there to increase the drainage system’s capacity to hold water until the tide changes for the system to drain by gravity out to sea.
Reading this article raised some questions:
1. Will the finds of Mr. Ali’s investigation be made public? Who are the other officers of the region that allow the development in the first place? The people of Plaisance should know who is looking after their interests.
2. Who did the Minister of Public Works consulted before approving the project?
3. Why did the Minister of Public Works ignore protocol and gave approval for a project of the nature (small private development)?
4. What are the stipulated protocols set out by the Ministry of Public Works for filling of this reservoir?
5. Will the developer be expected to provide alternate surface water storage to compensate for the volume of reservoir filled?
6. Was any public consultation carried out in the area by any of the authorities involved?
7. What role is the EPA playing in all of this?
8. Is the NDIA responsible for flood prevention as well or just the major drainage canals? If it is just the major drainage canals, we need to start building boats for the inevitable.
It makes you wonder if hands were greased. This issue is very similar to the development that was stop at Railway embankment and UG Road.
Filling drainage canal – another eggsample of good governance Guyana style.
My problem with the proposed project is the part that Chairman Rollox is playing. He signed a document just because a big one at the top had already given permission. This to me is poor representation of the rights of the people in the village and district he is responsible for. Mr. Rollox is dropping the ball here as village chairman.
The entire process need to be re-done beginning with the proposed investor having a meeting with the villagers and church members of the nearby church to explain the project and the benefits to the village. The villagers must have a chance to review the project for its pros and cons and give their permission before this project moves forward. Step up Mr. Rollox and no high handedness Mr. Corlette.
Guyanese need to start thinking outside the box. There is no need to fill or block the waterway in order to build a solid structure. Like Freetorun said, a reinforced concrete tube placed in the canal would allow for a solid surface to be constructed without obstructing the purpose of the canal. This method is employed everywhere else around the world. Why can’t some Guyanese stop makin these shortsighted decisions.
Leh mi seh sumting short an sweet: Dis car wash developer – is he mekking provision fuh ‘look afta’ de wata dat will come fram de car washin biznis?
See is lakka dis: dat wata wha wash de vehicles gon contaminate wid oil an grease an battery acid an odda toxic stuff dat shouldn be allow to guh in de grung. Dat wata suppose fuh gat tings in place fuh extrack de bad stuff an only leh de wata alone guh in de grung. Mi see dem odda car wash place bout town an mi does wanda if dem gat dem environmental proteckshun tings in place. Mi no dat de guvment gat EPA, but mi nah no wha dem does really do. Mi expek dat dem does check pon dem kinda tings like dis an mek sure dat nuh mo tings naah dey bout fuh gie we mo ah dem dizeze dat caan kure.
Ahrite mi seh mi peece – mi gaaan!
Ankoko beautiful creolese classy observation it is time that all Guyanese show some sort of care in what`s going on around them´and lobby to make their institutions work for them.