The many problems of Kwakani

The authorities are not dealing with the many problems at Kwakwani
Monday, February 19th 2007
Dear Editor,

The residents of Kwawani need to start questioning their leaders about decisions and representations they are making on their behalf.

The situation in our community of just about 5000 residents is getting from bad to worse and there seems to be no solution to reverse the decline. Someone needs to say enough is enough and get the little czars to work together for the overall benefit of the community.

There are some of us who are able and willing to work with what and who is available to bring about a positive change but the czars will not allow us. They prefer to hold steadfast to their throne and watch the kingdom fall

There are groups/organization established to work towards improving conditions for residents but something is just not adding up. There seems not to be a solution for the most basic problems that pop up. .

We have teachers who are in our community to teach our children living in a hostel with water barely running and only one out of four toilets working. How can this be happening when in days gone by the leaders were able to build a hostel by self-help and a Secondary School by paying a dollar a week. How can our leaders, the PTA's and the region allow this problem to remain for over one year?

We have two swimming pools not functioning for over fifteen years and would chase experts when they try to do an assessment to rehabilitate them, because they did not speak to one of the czars.

The Bauxite Company is giving to the Community $100.000 per month to assist with development. This fund is channeled through a group controlled by one of the czars but after 10 months, not a coin can be spent on any project.

The Forestry Commission is collecting a minimum of $35,000.00 per month from the Forestry Group to be used for Community Projects, but other than erection of a canopy for the Kwakwani Primary School, nothing else is there to show. The idea of injecting funds to communities by way of commission got its genesis in Kwakwani but I am sure all of the other communities can show the progress they are making from this fund.

Since 2002 President Jagdeo promised funding to rebuild a recreational facility if the community can only agree on a single plan, five years after we still cannot agree on a plan. We can take a lesson from Christianburg in Linden which had similar problems with a recreation facility because Kwakwani needed a proper NDC office, a building to house the Pre- School and Day Care, a proper hall for indoor Games and Conferences, change rooms for teams and a pavilion for cricket and football. All of the foregoing are needed by this Community and can be housed under one roof.

Funding can be acquired through the President's Youth Choice Initiative, the Ministry of Local Government, the Forestry Commission and the Bauxite Company.

The big question is will the czars allow this.

It will grieve the soul of the former leaders of this once beautiful park to see the state of the community and what passes for leadership.

All is not lost yet, the residents must start demanding that the czars give an account of their stewardship.

Yours faithfully,

Jocelyn Morian

StabroekNews