Dear Editor,
I have a penchant for local travel by roads. This must have come from my likeness of driving. With better highways these days, I have developed itchy feet especially at weekends and holidays and my travels take me as far as Moleson Creek, Berbice and through the highways and trails to hinterland areas such as Kwakwani and Lethem, Rupununi.
I do these runs not infrequently especially when I have overseas visitors who yearn to see the `real’ Guyana and me anxious to show them the beauty of our country.
I have not yet ventured to places like Mahdia and Bartica but these hotspots are on my itinerary and someday soon, I will be there.
As an ardent traveller, I have had the good fortune of seeing developments and underdevelopments across a wide section of our country, most notably along the coastlands.
If we are to measure the performance of our country by the various new and improved infrastructures, then Guyana has done well economically during the 17 years that the ruling PPP have been in government. However, many questions abound about whether we have been receiving value for money on many large projects executed by contractors, many of whom it is believe lacked the basic expertise to undertake and execute such projects. But, that’s another story to be examined another time.
In the past 17 years, state reserves became a “free for all” and many persons and even companies occupied these reserves as if these are bona fide transported properties.
No surprisingly, it is said that some people even purchased state reserves from Guysuco and were issued transports.
On some of these reserves gas stations, snackettes and restaurants have been built. Many of these businesses are even patronized by top government officials.
So when the government, through the Ministry of Works, embarked on an exercise to dismantle properties which it claimed are encroaching state reserves, there must have been a lot of thought and debates which culminated in a Cabinet decision to go after the occupiers of these reserves.
I don’t believe that subject minister Robeson Benn would have acted outside of an official government decision.
I strongly doubt, however, that Cabinet would have made a decision to have its minister demolish and clear only selected areas populated mainly by people of a particular ethnic group and who have traditionally voted for the PPP party.
Therefore, is Minister Benn acting outside of Cabinet’s mandate?
Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara and Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara are communities which support no other party than the PPP.
I strongly support this demolition campaign but it must be done fairly and all who violate, large or small, rich or poor, must be targeted and treated equally not selectively.
I do believe that the roadway at Mon Repos should have been cleared a long time ago.
One can readily encounter all sorts of businesses being conducted alongside the main highway. Even butcheries have been allowed to operate and this adds to the unbearable stench emanating therein, and which has contributed in large measure to changing the landscape in that particular village.
But, can Minister Benn tell us why some vendors have been removed and others allowed to continue their trade? This is nonsensical for if one vendor poses a problem, then all are equally guilty and should be removed forthwith.
What I have found strange though, is the reluctance of Minister Benn to take his exercise to non-PPP areas such as Buxton, Beterverwagting and Plaisance where there are more serious encumbrances on the highway along the railway embankment.
Shacks selling cooked foods, groceries, liquor and malt products litter state reserves in those areas.
A particular bar opens 24/7 along the highway in Plaisance but Minister Benn seems not to be aware of its existence.
Surely, one would expect Minister Benn to know of these encroachments on state lands but if he is so far unaware, one would suspect that after reading this letter someone will inform him and he will act.
Minister Benn must have travelled the East Bank Highway many times in the recent past and especially since he became a minister of the government. Ministers of the Government of Guyana are expected to travel frequently in and out of the country. Our President leads the way in international travel, closely followed by Health Minister Leslie Ramsammy who recently said that he (Ramsammy) is in the US “every other week,” so Minister Benn must have noticed several major encumbrances by businesses.
Minister Benn, if you are still not aware, let me bring you up to speed regarding at least three major encumbrances of state reserves along the East Bank Demerara highway and one would expect you will move with equal zest, zeal and impartiality in clearing these state reserves which have been encumbered.
1. There is a gas station-cum-restaurant- convenience store which is located exactly on a Guysuco access dam and state reserve at Eccles.
When do you plan to demolish this property?
2. There is a restaurant-snackette right on top of a reserved dam directly east of the Harbour Bridge at Peter’s Hall.
The owners of that business also filled-in a drainage canal to expand the business and are now engaged in the construction of a four-storey building directly behind the restaurant-snackette and right on top of the said reserve.
The said owners have also recently filled-in another section of the said canal which will serve, partially, as yard space for the building under construction and housing development. It is all there for you to see. Just stop and take a look.
When do you plan to demolish this property which keeps expanding on lands which belong to the state and by extension, the people of Guyana?
3. Another snackette-restaurant is located on prime state reserves at the busy entrance to the major Diamond Housing Scheme.
Sir, when do you plan to demolish this property?
If you are serious about clearing all state reserves of encumbrances, these are three prime examples of violations which you need to focus on so that your programme will not be seen as selective, targeting only little shacks, flower gardens, kissing bridges and walkways.
Minister Benn, let your conscience be your guide and do what is right lest your party stand to lose critical support at the next elections which it may not win and you will have to return to an ordinary civilian life where no respect will be shown to you.
Your meaningful programme has so far been targeting only poor people who have to struggle to make ends meet. You seem to have deliberately ignored the “fat cats” who continue to flagrantly violate the law and who are continuing to enjoy immunity.
We are watching how you deal with the “fat cats” who continue to encumber, violate and disrespect.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed I. Ally
