Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton has reported that his recent outreach to communities in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) has revealed that the government is neglecting areas it deems to be Opposition-aligned.
The allegation was levelled at a press conference Norton held on Wednesday.
He said that visits to the communities of Zambia in the Black Bush Polder area, Eliza Mary popularly known as Little Africa in Corriverton, and Bush Lot on the Corentyne have revealed the government’s continued marginalization.
Addressing the issues he observed, Norton said that despite Zambia being a part of the Black Bush Polder area the people there are treated as second class citizens. He said that infrastructural and other developmental works are evident in all other areas of Black Bush Polder namely: Lesbeholden, Mibicuri, Johanna and Yakusari but none in Zambia.
“The residents complained of the high level of unemployment, lack of proper infrastructural work within the area; no roads, poor drainage, no water and no functioning playground for the children within the community. They further noted that the playfield was started under the Coalition government and should have been completed by 2020, but on the assumption of the office of the PPP administration, no further work was done.
“The residents also complained that with the high cost of living, there are still very little or no job opportunities, even in cases of students performing exceptionally well at the CSEC examination there are no opportunities for them to progress. A young person who seeks any form of development is forced to leave the community thus depriving the community of its best and brightest,” Norton reported.
He called for the government to review its policy and demanded that the same infrastructural, development and social services as the other communities within Black Bush Polder, be afforded to the community of Zambia.
Over in Eliza Mary or Little Africa, the residents reported that no services are provided to the community by the PPP/C controlled Corriverton Town Council.
“Little Africa is deprived of proper roads, drainage, and street lights and there is no system for garbage collection. These are some of the basic necessities that are absent from this community which has been in existence for more than three decades,” he said.
Little Africa is an unregulated housing settlement and the residents there are calling on the government to regularize the area so the residents can access the basic necessities. Norton said that those same services that Little Africa is being offered in other unregulated areas.
The Opposition Leader said that the residents are claiming that the Town Council has approved dumping at the entrance of the community’s only burial ground ultimately preventing access.
“The youths of the community bemoaned the fact that they are deprived of jobs while at the same time, they are compelled to live with a very high cost of living. Many young people from the area are of the view that once they are from Little Africa they are deprived of employment.
“The Town Council has been largely ignoring the representations made by the elected representatives of the people, especially the APNU+AFC Councillors. The people complained that the PPP Mayor disregards their representation and has been making his own determinations about the needs and resources to be provided to the community. Unfortunately, this means no resources or services are provided to the community,” Norton reported.
Norton placed the government on notice saying that the Opposition will continue advocating for the people of Region Six to ensure that their issues are addressed.
In Bush Lot, Norton said that the residents are complaining about the lack of proper drainage infrastructure. The predominantly farming community also told Norton of the need for roads to access their homes.
“Farmers in the community cited discrimination in the disbursement of the COVID Cash Grant and the Farmers’ Cash Grant for flood relief despite many farmers in the area saying they saw their names on the list but never received any cash relief.
“The farmers were very critical of the Minister and the Ministry of Agriculture. They contend that they do not see the Agriculture Extension workers and therefore they do not receive technical assistance. The farmers are demanding that extension workers should visit to help them with their crops and livestock,” Norton claimed.
He added that the Opposition will continue its outreach to the communities to address the issues faced by the residents.
