Dear Editor,
On Monday October 5, I decided to visit the National Communications Network (NCN) at the Cotton Field, Essequibo Coast government compound, since I was told that it was in a deplorable condition. I was appalled to see the state of the compound designed and built by Sir William Halcrow and company, a British firm which was the consultant to Paulin and Co Ltd, the contractor for theTapakuma Irrigation Project way back in the 1960s.
The British expatriates were living in the houses in the compound while working on the project for years, and when they left for the UK the compound was left in a perfectly habitable condition.
Thereafter, government officers who had been transferred from outside the region started to occupy these buildings. The streets and drainage systems were in very good condition while I was working with the Guyana government in the ʼ70s. I would pay visits to my engineer, Mr Seecharran, who hailed from Berbice and was living there.
After leaving the government I started to work with A H& L Kissoon Ltd, the furniture giant. I happened to visit the Anna Regina Multilateral very often because our company was contracted to supply all the furniture for this school and the infrastructure was in tip-top shape in this compound.
On the day when I visited NCN in my car, I noticed that the front gate leading to the entrance of the compound and the building which houses the transmitting sets and equipment, was broken down. The trench facing the building was clogged up with high weeds providing cover for snakes, alligators and dangerous reptiles. When I entered the compound, I observed that there was no fence, only some posts. The tower, water tanks and other things were all exposed to thieves; it was not even safe for the guards.
The steps leading inside the buildings and the platform were broken down; a board had been placed for people to walk on so they could enter the building which transmits GTV shows to the entire Essequibo Coast, Pome-roon and Moruka.
There was no running water outside or inside the building; and the A/C units were not functioning to cool the sealed room where the transmitting sets are located. This is the state in which the previous administration had left the NCN building and compound. For the past 23 years the PPP had occupied government and with all the money which was budgeted every year for NCN, this was the sad state I found it in.
No one from the regional administration for the past 23 years took time off to visit and check the conditions to see if the money which was budgeted was well spent; no REO, building inspectors, engineers, regional chairmen, vice-chairmen or other officer had an interest in this place.
They forgot that it existed in Region Two, although it was broadcasting live TV shows and news on a 24 hours basis.
I was told by the security guard that the new Regional Executive Officer (REO) Mr Rupert Hopkinson had paid several visits and made note of the state of the facility. It is evident that rough times are ahead, although government will do its utmost to strengthen the base so Essequibians can enjoy a better service from Georgetown.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
