Anna Regina Town Council has done nothing to stop a public thoroughfare being converted into agricultural land

Dear Editor,

A large portion of a thoroughfare which in the past was used to provide ingress and egress to the Lima sideline dam and which is under the control of the Anna Regina Town Council, has now been converted into rice lands, vegetable garden plots and is even being used for the construction of a dwelling house in violation of the law.

As a consequence of this, great hardship, suffering and inconvenience is being caused to several residents there, including myself, since it is almost impossible to make use of a vehicle, be it for a funeral, a wedding or any other purpose.

Only the other day I bought a truckload of sand for $9,000 and had to pay $8,000 to get it to the spot with the use of a wheelbarrow, because it was not possible for the vehicle to drive in or out.

What is alarming in the present situation is that no one in authority within the Region 2 administration seems to be concerned about the problem and this is not good enough and also reflects poorly on the government.

This is not a case where I am begging the council to do me a favour, because it is their responsibility to ensure that such violation does not continue.

The council in empowered by law to prosecute the violators, and this lack of enforcement of the bylaws raises disturbing questions.

For several years, the now deceased Town Clerk, the present one, the Mayor and the Regional Chairman were approached by me to rectify the situation, but it was just useless.

What else can I do? From my understanding, a former member of parliament who was attached to the Regional Democratic Council had given verbal permission for the perpetrators to go ahead.

All encumbrances on the thoroughfare should be removed once and for all. The council needs to understand that prevention is always better than cure, and that things should be done the right way at all times.

 

Yours faithfully,
Monilall