Orealla Council upset over illegal airstrip remarks

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Orealla Council upset over illegal airstrip remarks
Kaieteur News, 21 May 2007

OREALLA, CORENTYNE RIVER – Some members of the Orealla Village Council
are perturbed by media reports which claimed that an illegal airstrip
was destroyed in that reservation.

Orealla Village Councillor, Carl Peneux, speaking on behalf of the
body, said, “When these media house state that the airstrip was found
in Orealla it is incorrect. The airstrip was found down river away from
Orealla about six miles at a place called Gobeltex. This airstrip was
destroyed before by the army but they build it back.”

He declined to divulge any information on the actual operation but said
that reports circulated could cause Orealla some amount of
embarrassment.

“It gives the impression that we are involved in drugs, narcotics. We
are trying to build partnerships with Government and non-governmental
organisations and such reports could have some problems for us.”

He claimed that his Council has a zero tolerance policy for illicit
drugs.

“There is a drug problem in Orealla. The previous council was very
lenient, unconcerned and not looking at the drug problem. As soon as we
took over we informed the police and as a result one woman is now
serving three years (in jail).

“As recent as last week a man was held with at least four grammes of
cocaine and he is now on remand.”

According to him, a group of residents visited the Minister of Home
Affairs and were advised to get the necessary manpower to establish
neighbourhood police and community policing groups.

“We also requested a police outpost at Siparuta. This is really to
assist in fighting the drug problem and lawlessness on the whole in
Orealla and Siparuta.”