Dear Editor,

The handling of the issue of the University of Guyana Taxi Park at the junction of the East Coast Highway and UG access road by Minister Benn must be commended. I agree completely that the public interest must be given priority over the private and selfish interest of a few.

It is therefore my hope that the minister will visit West Coast Demerara some time soon. There he will see that the small vendors of traditional Guyanese dhal puri, egg ball and cane juice have been forced to comply with orders to remove, even though moving means a loss of income to support families.

Sadly though, the wealthy continue to occupy large portions of government reserve raking in millions of dollars in revenue each month from such occupation. One such glaring example is a large imposing concrete structure which sprang up overnight next door to the Leonora Police Station. When I returned from overseas recently, I saw this monster of a building where a lovely little cottage once stood a long time ago. This building occupies government reserve to the north, west and south.

Recently, Works Ministry officials served notices on several small operators to remove sand, etc, from road parapets. But it does not seem likely that this business will be served. I say that because all the small people who said that they got notices have put themselves in order while this place still stands the same way.

The public interest must be given priority over the narrow, selfish private interest of a few.

Yours faithfully,
Arundranauth Motie