This week, we asked the people of Berbice: What are some of the problems that affect you and what would you like to see changed in the New Year? Below are their responses:
Patrick Lewis, security guard, New Amsterdam – ‘The only problem that is affecting me is the VAT. Since VAT came on stream some items like milk and bread that were not supposed to be VATed have been increased. Those are the main items that the poor people need. There are many children on the street because their parents cannot afford to upkeep them. They leave school and are walking on the street to find something to eat. For me if I need something – VAT or not – I’ll buy it. The price for cooking gas increased from $2,600 to $3,400 but I have to buy it because I wouldn’t turn to anything else. My wish for the New Year is that the salaries are upgraded because the spending power is not there. If you go to the supermarket with $15,000 to purchase groceries you don’t have anything left. I would also love to see the government look into the interest of the children so that they would be off the street. To me in time to come if something is not done more children would be on the street as well.’
Shazida Abdulla, businesswoman, New Amsterdam – ‘One of the major issues affecting me is the long wait at the stellings to cross with the ferry. As a businesswoman I find it to be very inconveniencing and time consuming. The ferry does not work on schedule and sometimes if we go to the stelling and the gate is closed some of the workers would flex and open. But others would just leave you there to watch helplessly from outside the closed gate as they take a couple more minutes to pull up the door [ferry] and move off. Then it would take almost two hours before you can finally reach to the other side. Sometimes the boat would have to wait mid-stream for the other one to move off before it can moor. I am looking forward to the bridge in the New Year as it would save a lot of time. Another problem affecting me is the noise nuisance in the town. I know that it is the holidays and people have to celebrate but they also need to have consideration for others. I also noticed that while the council is trying to clean up, the town is still in a terrible state. I wish that in the New Year the town would be cleaned up so that visitors would look forward to return. I also would like to see each home beautified with flowers. If each resident takes pride in up-keeping their homes and environment we would have a beautiful town and country.’
Alladin Kamaludin, mini-bus owner/driver, Albion – ‘My concern is that the quality of water in my area is very bad. It has a lot of rust and we cannot drink it. We use it for washing but it leaves all our white clothes discoloured. We are getting the water from the Fyrish well and it seems as though something is wrong with it. There is a new well at Rose Hall that supplies good quality of water but we do not get water from there. I hope that in the New Year the service would be improved. VAT is also a problem for me because the cost of living is too high. Then the police are harassing drivers on the other side. I know they have to do their jobs because there are some reckless drivers out there who cause accidents. I do not agree with the attitudes of these drivers and I think if a driver is charged with causing death, his licence should be taken away and he should pay a high fine. The other day I was driving at around 60 kilometres, which to me is reasonable and the police charged me for speeding. I had to pay a fine of $6,500. What I would like to see for the New Year is government reviewing the speed limit to about 80 km. I am a driver for over 17 years and I never made an accident.’
Michael Xiu Quan-Balgobin-Hackett, Rose Hall Town, lecturer at UG Berbice campus – ‘Since the GPL [Guyana Power & Light] grid is now getting additional power from the Skeldon Project, Berbice’s blackout woes have eased considerably. But we are still experiencing occasional blackouts, for instance on Christmas Eve we had it for one hour, on Thursday it lasted four hours and we experienced blackout again for half hour on Friday. I also find that very early in the mornings like around 1:00 there are short blackouts. I hope that these are now teething problems, which the management can soon fix. The water situation is also affecting me. When I moved into my new home located 800 metres from the GWI [Guyana Water Incorporated] Rose Hall Water Plant in 2004 I got full water pressure in my bathroom on the first floor for two years. Now the water occasionally trickles up to the kitchen taps so I still have to go back and use the pump to get water upstairs. I am happy though, that the water is clear and chlorinated – a vast improvement from what we got about 15 years ago. I think the authorities can do a good job if they keep the tank with a good supply. They seem to be having engineering problems because as soon as they fill the tank it is finished within an hour. The plant supplies water to residents from Tain to Fyrish. Another problem is the garbage collection service provided by the local authority. It is not adequate to clean up the mess made by residence. Many Berbicians are not environmentally conscious – they just dump garbage anywhere and everywhere – the trenches, roads and street corners. Recently the Regional Chairman [Region Six] said he wants Berbice to become the Singapore of Guyana and for that to happen the basic utilities have to be drastically improved. The good news for all Berbicians is the construction of the Berbice River Bridge and when it is completed next year Berbicians would shout thank God we are free at last! I want to be among the first persons to cross the bridge. For the New Year I wish to see education delivery in Berbice improve at all levels especially at the university.’
Yonette Lancaster, sales clerk, New Amsterdam – ‘VAT is my biggest problem right now. The same amount of money that I used to spend before is not enough anymore. A gallon of rice that was selling for $300 now cost $500; a gallon of kero has increased $620 to $800; a can of milk that I used to purchase for $2,800 is now $4,000. I know there is a shortage of milk on the world market but that does not mean the price has to be so high because that is VAT free. For the New Year I wish if the prices can be less and I would also like to see a reduction in the VAT so that people’s salaries can be enough.’
Lalmattie Carpen, housewife, Tempie, West Coast Berbice – ‘I don’t have any major problems in my area because I do not live in a street
