PNCR causing the deplorable conditions of Diamond/Grove Housing Scheme

Minister within the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, Norman Whittaker has laid the brunt of the blame on the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) for the deplorable conditions of roads in the Diamond/Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara. The PNCR’s injunction against the rehabilitation of the area’s Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) office affects a much bigger venture, the Community Road Improvement Project (CRIP). Minister Whittaker said that under CRIP, 12 roads are to be rehabilitated but the government of Guyana and the Caribbean Development Bank Project had mandated that the work on the streets must be done in conjunction with the rehabilitation of the Grove/Diamond NDC building. These works, he said have been stalled following the PNCR injunction against the construction on the grounds that the building belongs to them. “The PNC has opportunely claimed that the NDC building is theirs and that is a matter before the courts, so it is impeding the kind of works that we would like to do in the area,” Whittaker said. Whittaker added that even though the matter is before the courts, the people are suffering and the Local Government Ministry is concerned. He noted that the ministry wants to commence works immediately, but they have to await the results of that court case. Minister Whittaker expressed the hope that the PNCR will withdraw its injunction so that work to rehabilitate the NDC office and more than 4000 metres of roads in the Grove/Diamond area can commence. Apart from the conditions of the streets, another concern was that of street lights as some residents claim that they had taken the initiative to put up street lights, but they were removed by the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated Company (GPL). While meeting with the residents of the Diamond/Grove Housing Scheme, Whittaker advised them that they could not, without the permission of the NDC, erect street lights, and this may be the reason why the GPL personnel dismantled the lights as the NDC office would have to pay the cost of electricity. The residents were told that those wishing to have street lights must form themselves into groups and make a proper representation to the NDC office, which would subsequently apply and pay for the service, and residents will in turn pay the NDC.