-during Matthews Ridge visit
President Irfaan Ali was yesterday pressed about the murder charges stemming from the MV Barima tragedy and calls for ministers Juan Edghill and Deodat Indar to be removed during a public consultation at Matthews Ridge, Region One.
Residents also raised a range of longstanding concerns, including access to farmland, transportation for schoolchildren, delays in the issuing of land titles, noise nuisance, social services and the need for an ambulance and a proper market.
The meeting was one of several held by Ali and government ministers across the region yesterday during the Cabinet outreach.
The exchanges were seen in a Facebook video posted by the Matthews Ridge Neighbourhood Watch.
Ali, who told those gathered that he was there to listen, was questioned by one resident about the evidence and motive underpinning the murder charges brought against three Transport and Harbours Department employees over the ferry disaster.
The resident also urged the President to take action against Edghill and Indar.
“Even if you don’t want to send them home, give the people some peace of mind. Let them relax until this thing quiet down,” the man said.
Ali responded that the laying of charges was outside of his control and was a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions, who would have to be satisfied that a case had been made out.
The President pointed to the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry (CoI), saying that at the conclusion of its work, “all of us would be able to make our own individual or collective assumptions.”
When asked about a timeframe for the inquiry, Ali said he did not want to be accused of restricting its work. The resident’s intervention received loud applause.
As Ali was leaving the meeting, he encountered a small, peaceful protest, with participants chanting, “Edghill and Indar must go.”
“Over a hundred of we people dead,” one protester shouted. The President greeted the protesters as he departed while they continued chanting.
Fresh chicken
During the consultation, one resident proposed the establishment of a poultry-production facility in Region One to ensure a sustainable supply of fresh chicken for Matthews Ridge and surrounding communities.
He said approximately 3,000 pounds of chicken was being transported by air from Region Four to supply workers and that freight costs had driven up retail prices.
According to the resident, a local operation encompassing poultry production, processing and cold storage would lower prices, generate employment and allow chicken produced in the region to be stored and distributed safely.
“This investment would strengthen food security, reduce dependence on transporting poultry from Region Four, stimulate economic activity in Region One and support the government’s vision of promoting agriculture, creating employment and advancing hinterland development,” he said.
The resident indicated that he was prepared to invest in the venture if given the opportunity. He also called for the establishment of a proper market square, a proposal which drew applause.
Another resident questioned the requirement for National Insurance Scheme compliance to access loans of up to $3 million through the proposed Guyana Development Bank. She said many small business operators were not NIS-compliant and could therefore be excluded from financing despite the government’s promotion of entrepreneurship.
The woman also complained about persistent loud music, which she said was affecting residents’ health and quality of life. She said several reports had been made to the police but the problem continued.
While acknowledging that people had a right to enjoy themselves, she said they must also respect the rights of others and called for the relevant laws to be enforced.
Child neglect
She further requested that welfare officers be assigned to the community to assist families and investigate cases of child neglect and abuse.
Transportation was also raised, with a resident saying that one bus was insufficient to serve the community’s nursery, primary and secondary schools. An ambulance was also requested.
A cattle farmer told Ali that residents had approached Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha more than five years ago about developing a pasture, but the promise had not materialised.
He said the number of cattle in the area had declined because animals were being struck by vehicles as farmers had no designated grazing area.
After initially being told that there were approximately seven cattle farmers with around 45 animals, Ali expressed surprise. Another person in the gathering then shouted that there were closer to 200 cattle.
The President called for a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture but received no immediate response. After residents indicated that land was available, Ali instructed the Regional Executive Officer to work on developing 100 acres for pasture.
He also directed that Mustapha be contacted and questioned about the absence of a representative from the ministry’s Georgetown office.
The farmer thanked the President, drawing loud applause from those gathered.
There was a tense exchange when another resident accused community leaders of failing to perform their duties and of holding meetings only once every four or five months.
Ali initially told him to confine his presentation to community issues. When the resident alleged that local leaders treated community assets as though they belonged to them and that residents had no say, the President rejected the assertion.
Ali pointed to the employment of Matthews Ridge residents on road and airstrip projects and told the man to “correct himself.” He invoked the Bible, saying that people must acknowledge what was right.
The person agreed that residents had worked on the projects but said he was referring to transportation, farming and other community concerns. He said crops were sometimes destroyed and called on the Ministry of Agriculture to identify a suitable area for farming.
Another resident complained that he had been paying for a plot of land for years but had still not received a title. He said he had a family and wanted to build a home.
Ali assured him that the matter would be addressed, but the resident replied that he had received similar assurances on several occasions without any resolution.
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