Pensioners protest neglect of South Vryheid’s Lust

By Leroy Smith

[www.inewsguyana.com] – A group of pensioners led by a re-migrant on Saturday morning (March 8) held a brief protest as they called on the Better Hope Neighborhood Democratic Council to move swiftly in addressing several concerns of the community.

The pensioners, numbering just under ten and consists of men and women expressed their frustration with the state of roads in the community, a deplorable access bridge, scarce garbage collection and the absence of a health centre in the community.

Speaking with iNews just after the police arrived and ordered the senior citizens to clear the area, one of the disgruntled women explained that for years the bridge has been a contention for resident with respect to their safety.

According to her, three years ago the bridge was patched up when the responsible authorities could have in fact constructed a whole new bridge out of concrete.

At present there is a hole in the bridge which according to the other pensioners is a danger to life and limb. They expressed concern for the safety of children and persons who use the bridge at nights.

This morning iNews (www.inewsguyana.com) observed that several streets in the area are almost impassable and the ones which are relatively in a good condition lead to parts of the village which is not very populated.

iNews (www.inewsguyana.com) also observed the state of a plot of land which should be used as a recreation area for the community but has been reduced to a grazing ground for cattle.

Garbage is usually piled up along another road leading to the cemetery and which is sometimes burnt by the residence due to the non-visits by the garbage collection crew from the RDC.

Today’s protest did grab the attention of Regional Chairman Clement Corlettee. As this iNews reporter was leaving the area it was noticed that the Regional Chairman was making his way into the village.

Corlettee told iNews (www.inewsguyana.com) that he was not aware of the plight of the people and immediately instructed the Better Hope RDC to have the bridge fixed while the Ministry of Public Works will be approached in the coming week to address the road woes of the residents.