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The majority of businesspersons come to Port Kaituma from outside the region and are squatting on land reserved for industrial development

Dear Editor,

In Port Kaituma, Region One, we have agreed with the NDC to regularize some of our squatters who are selling on the roadways when the construction of the new road commences. It was agreed that all the roadside sellers and those who block others’ business premises would be relocated to a compound which once housed our old power house, which is located on a prime plot of land in the central market area. This compound also houses several toilets to cater for the needs of our people who traverse from miles away to shop. The toilets also help to keep our river water free from being contaminated with human waste, because the river water is being used along the banks by people to cook, drink, wash, etc.

Early last week to our astonishment we saw a businessman who hails from another sub-region come into our community and proceed to repair and rebuild the old power house. Upon asking about his activities he said he had been given a contract by the regional chairman to clean and repair the structure. However, on investigation by our community leaders the businessman produced a document which stated that the regional chairman had rented the entire place to him. This came as a shock to us and our councillors who said that nothing of the sort had been passed at the last three RDC meetings, and the RDC is the highest decision-making body in the region, not the regional chairman. The people of Port Kaituma have a right to earn a living, for it is hard to survive with food prices going up around the world. We need a higher authority to launch an investigation, and we are asking our President to intervene before all is lost.

This businessman has a big business in his home town. So let others live too.

We hope the relevant authority takes up this matter.

Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)

Editor’s note

We sent a copy of this letter to Chairman for Region 1, Mr Fermin Singh, for any comments he may have wished to make and received the following response:

“The letter from Port Kaituma is not totally accurate. The first paragraph states, ‘In Port Kaituma… we have agreed with the NDC [Neighbourhood Democratic Council] to regularize some of our squatters…’ Who are the ‘we?’ Why some squatters? The third sentence states that this plot of land houses several toilets.

“How can we put sellers of green vegetables among toilets to sell food materials, and this person is speaking of sanitation and hygienic conditions. It is a fact that some households along the canal bank use the river water for washing purposes.

“With reference to the second paragraph, the Regional Chairman did not give any contract.

“The Regional Chairman between meetings represents the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and can make a decision and then take same to the RDC for ratification.

“This portion of land is Government land; the Regional Chairman did not sell the land. The RDC can only rent assets that are not in immediate use for a period.

“The majority of business persons came to Port Kaituma from other parts of the Region and the country to do business in the area and are squatting on land specially reserved for industrial development in the waterfront area.”

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One Response to “The majority of businesspersons come to Port Kaituma from outside the region and are squatting on land reserved for industrial development”

rupman
on July 24th, 2008 9:20 am

The Regional Chairman’s repsons to the queries put forward by th Port Kaituma resident is questionable.
He knew of the plan by the NDC to convert the compound into a shopping area (he did not offer any denial in his response), yet went ahead and rented the property to an outsider. Then there was the businessman’s shady response to queries from members of the community? Preferring to state that he was just refurbrishing the compound rather than admitting that he was going to rent the place. Why would he go to such lengths to hide the fact that he had rented the premises?
Secondly, the RC must have been aware that using the compound to house the squatters would have benfitted the community much more than renting the palce to a single businessman. How is he now going to deal with the squatters when the road works?
The RC’s decision seems to be very short sighted and self serving and provides very little benfit to the residents of Port Kaituma. The deal should be thoroughly investigated by the higher authorities.
Hope the Minister Lall gets involved as quickly as he did with the M&CC.

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