Dear Editor,
In another 11 days’ time, residents from 67 local authority areas will be heading to the polls in what will be the first ever local government elections (LGE) here in 22 years. Regarding the situation at the LBI/Better Hope NDC on the East Coast of Demerara, we wish to share the view that most of this NDC officials, ie, administrative staff and the council, have, it seems, abdicated their varied municipal responsibilities to ratepayers.
Editor, ratepayers are faithfully paying their rates and taxes while in return they are not in receipt of the services paid for. Foremost among the services they are not satisfied with is the poor or non-existent rubbish collection which ratepayers have to pay a private company instead to collect. The current person responsible for the rubbish collection after signing in for work in the morning, does not discharge his duties thereafter.
Secondly, drainage: the drainage system is very poor as it is currently blocked with overgrown bushes, shrubs, silt, and weeds. The rain is also imminent and we are bracing ourselves for the usual flood again.
We notice several individuals who were councillors running around campaigning for a return seat on that erstwhile ineffective council when they were ineffective as members of the council. The administration is also ineffective and needs to be replaced with qualified staff and non-party people.
We trust that ratepayers would vote with prudence so that sincere and honest individuals would be elected to serve the people/ratepayers.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
