Shabna Rahman

  Chairman of the Farm/ Hydronie Neighbourhood Democratic Council, Milton Dookie is contesting the Local Government Elections independently against representatives from the two main political groups in the First-Past-the-Post component.

Commuters are peeved at the deplorable condition of the Parika Stelling and have called for it to be modernised and extended with better systems so that it could generate more revenue.

The two candidates for the Toevlugt-La Retraite, West Demerara constituency in Friday’s Local Government Elections (LGE) are looking past the planned closure of the Wales sugar estate even while they accept that the impact will be severe.

With a few days remaining for the Local Government Elections, we asked members of the public if they would be voting and if they have seen the candidates that would be representing them in their communities.

Roy Lewis, who has admitted to fatally stabbing an 18-year-old in-law after the youth rejected his sexual advances, will know his fate on March 22nd, when he is due to be sentenced.

Two contestants from constituency 8 of the Toevlugt/Patentia Neighbourhood Democratic Council fear the impact of the Wales estate closure and want the main access bridge in their area addressed.

Rice farmers in Leguan are facing a crisis as for the first time in recent memory they have been unable to sow because of the prolonged El Niño drought.

The two candidates for Constituency 6 of the Toevlugt/Patentia Neighourhood Democratic Council are concerned about the effects of the Wales estate closure but are still prepared to work to develop the community.

This week on What the People Say we asked members of the public to comment on the Local Government Elections and any other issues affecting them.

Story and photos by Shabna Rahman   Residents of Maryville, Leguan Island are facing the effects of El Nino and were unable to cultivate rice for the current crop, though it is the main source of income for many farmers.

Candidates for both the governing APNU+AFC and the opposition PPP/C on March 18 in constituency nine of the Toevlugt/Patentia Neigh-bourhood Democratic Council (NDC) have lamented plans to close the Wales sugar estate.

This week on `What the people say’ we asked members of the public if they have been following the local government developments and if they will be voting on March 18.

Private farmers who supply cane to the Wales Sugar Estate are at their wits end to find an alternative means of earning a livelihood as they don’t believe that taking cane across the coast to the Uitvlugt estate is feasible.

This week we asked members of the public to share their views on the government’s announcement of plans to close the Wales estate by the end of the year.

Workers of the Wales Sugar Estate who were part of another protest march yesterday at Belle West, Canal No 2, West Bank Demerara as they keep up the struggle for government to rethink its decision to close the estate were joined by veteran trade unionist Lincoln Lewis, Head of the TUC.

…in wake of planned closure Three weeks after the announcement that the Wales Sugar Estate would be closed later this year, some workers are disappointed that no one from the government has visited to discuss an alternative and they want an independent examination of the condition of the estate.

Five men are in police custody in connection with the robbery/murder of a 64-year-old man of Parika Sea Dam, East Bank Essequibo whose bound and gagged body was discovered around 6:20 am yesterday.

Commuters, frustrated about the hassle to cross the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) during the early morning rush-hour traffic, are asking for a solution to ease the situation.

 This week on What the People Say we asked persons to share their views about this year’s budget.

Story and photos by Shabna Rahman In the otherwise quiet village of Roden Rust, East Bank Essequibo, residents would like to see one thing changed: that is the removal of a sawmill that is causing dust pollution.