-Dauntless feels brunt of tides
Residents of Leguan who spoke to Stabroek News last week believe that monies allocated by the government for the construction of an airfield should be spent on other important needs such as the sea defence, roads and the creation of jobs since unemployment is widespread on the island. In this year’s budget, $184M was allocated for the construction of airstrips on the Essequibo River islands of Leguan and Wakenaam. In last year’s budget, $108M was also set aside for this venture in addition to the rehabilitation of the airfield at Baramita in Region 1. No work has been undertaken since.
According to the islanders, Leguan is under-developed and most families are poor. They said an airstrip would not be beneficial since many days, persons cannot muster the $500 as speed boat fare to cross over to Parika. According to Winston Lake, a resident of the village of La Bagatelle, an airstrip would require “a flight schedule, which would further require people with money”. He said most families on the island are engaged in farming but the rice farmers are facing difficult times since they are not paid much for their paddy and as a result they are now contemplating other options to sustain themselves. “It’s a logical thing, they should not build it,” Lake said, regarding the airstrip. Another resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said that a petition is currently being drawn up and it would soon be presented to the authorities, objecting to the airfield proposal.
The man said the airstrip would remain “a white elephant”, whatever its purpose is. He said there are many qualified young people working in the rice fields, some have as many as 7 CXC subjects and instead of constructing an airstrip the authorities should find ways to attract investors to the island so that persons can gain employment. Some residents said they were told that the airfield would be constructed at the northern section of the island. That area is accessible by a road known as ‘Long Road’, one of the three main roads located on the island.
While at Leguan, it was noted that two of the main roads are filled with potholes, these being Long Road and the main road which leads to the eastern section of the island. The villages of Enterprise and Blenheim are located along this road. The other road which passes through the villages of La Bagatelle, Belfield and Maryville is located on the western side of the island. The three roads culminate at the ferry stelling. Motorists living along the eastern main road said that the road is in dire need of repairs. According to a car owner, he rarely uses his vehicle since the potholes on the road have caused damage to his car.
Some residents also voiced concerns over the need for a better sea defence on the island. Shir Ally, a pensioner and rice farmer who has been living on the island all his life said that the island’s sea defence system needs overhauling. He said that some of the main drainage canals which drain water off of the island have been filled with vegetation for sometime now. Stabroek News observed a few canals located in the villages of La Bagatelle and Enterprise filled with vegetation. According to Ally, the government needs to do more infrastructural work to make the residents more comfortable. He said during high tides water has been flooding sections of the island. A speed boat operator, who asked to remain anonymous, said that persons often pray during high tides for protection from the waters surrounding the island. Asked for his opinion on the construction of the airfield, the man said that the government needs to get its priorities in order. He said if one is to ask residents on the island for their opinion regarding the airstrip, they would give an answer similar to his. The La Bagatelle resident took this reporter through his backyard which was flooded in some parts. The man said his backyard has been under water for years and the water only recedes during sunshine. At the sea dam behind his house, the sand bags placed there have been damaged as a result of the high tides. He said the sand bags were used ‘to patch’ the sea dam. He also informed that BK International had done some sea defence work at other sections of the island “which was more concrete”. He, along with his friends, said that the construction firm should be solely designated to upkeep the island’s sea defence. A few persons said that the village of Dauntless, located on the northern section of Leguan feels the brunt of the high tides. This newspaper also observed huge cracks in the sea wall located near the ferry stelling. A speed boat operator related that the fissures are sometimes temporarily plastered with cement. Cracks were also noticeable on the sea wall farther east of the ferry stelling.
Leguan is supplied with electricity from Monday to Thursday, between 4 pm and 8 am the following day and on a 24-hour basis thereafter. A group of housewives said that the island is in need of a continuous supply of electricity since there is nothing much to do during the day. They said most persons listen to the radio during the day, especially when cricket commentary is being broadcast but with the current electricity supply, they said “we only get to see the last 10 overs”.
There are approximately 5,000 persons living at Leguan and according to a shopkeeper, the island usually comes to life with the arrival of the ferry. In addition to the Transport and Harbours Department ferry, speed boat operators also ply their trade between the island and the Parika ferry stelling. They however, wait for hours at both ports, since few persons travel to and from the island while those who do, prefer to use the ferry. Most Leguan residents live at the southern section of the island in proximity to the ferry stelling. From this section of the island Parika and other East Bank Essequibo villages nearby are clearly visible. The area situated in the vicinity of the Leguan Police Station and the Regional Democratic Office is considered the island’s ‘bright spot’.
The construction of airstrips at Leguan and Wakenaam has been debated in various mediums and residents at Wakenaam expressed similar views to Stabroek News two weeks ago about the need for other priorities.
Exactly what sort of consultation by the government with the islanders resulted in the decision to build the airstrips is unclear. It is also uncertain if the airstrips form part of a larger plan to generate investment and create jobs in the communities.
