Dear Editor,

I must thank you for publishing my letter captioned "When will Berbicians get the bridge" (04-12-2003) though it was edited. The letter was also sent to the other newspapers but not published.

The Guyana Chronicle carried a reply captioned "Berbice has not been forgotten" by S Ramnarine in its Saturday, December 6th issue. The letter writer stated that I should also mention the positive things that have been done in Berbice and that Berbicians need to be more patient and that we have not been neglected.

S. Ramnarine did not address the corruption that goes on daily and nightly at the Berbice ferry crossings. He or she did not comment on the state of the administration of justice in Berbice.

The writer states that the bridge across the Berbice river would cost US$40M and that this is a huge sum. This is the first time I have heard a figure quoted. To the best of my knowledge the government is spending US$42M to build the bridges and the road from Rosignol, West Coast Berbice to the East Bank Demerara. Millions are being spent on the Caricom headquarters and millions more are wasted on sea defences annually. The bridge is not seen as a priority and a necessity. Every household in Berbice knows that the bridge is a political gimmick.

It seems that a chimney is the sole impediment to the upgrading of the airport at Rose Hall, Canje. This is news to me. I wonder if it would take 10 years to have this 'chimney' removed. There are other possible sites for an airport e.g. Albion, Skeldon or further inland away from the population centres.

Berbicians are very grateful to this administration for the Berbice University Campus and are fully aware of the persons who lobbied for the establishment of the Campus in Berbice. But what about the planned expansion promised by our President? It is at a standstill. What about all the young graduates who cannot find jobs?

A modern hospital for Berbice is long overdue and most welcome. At present the New Amsterdam Hospital is heavily understaffed and without an administrator. It is regarded by Berbicians as a place to die in. Almost every patient who is in a serious condition has to be referred to the Georgetown Hospital. It remains to be seen whether this administration will find the doctors and nurses to staff this new hospital.

It is obvious that the letter writer never visited any of the newly built markets. Had that been done it would have been observed that the markets are not being utilized. The vendors have set up stalls along the roadways and are encumbering the roadways. There are constant feuds with respect to the allocation of stalls in the new markets.

A major part of our problem in Berbice is that our 'selected' MPs do not visit us and certainly do not represent us. This administration does not have the interest of Berbicians at heart.

Yours faithfully,

R. Singh

 

 

 

Funds being sought to build bridge across Berbice River
I noted with keen interest a letter writer, R. Singh, stating "We're still to get the Bridge across the Berbice River" in the Tuesday, December 16 issue of the Guyana Chronicle.

He went on to say that the President promised Berbicians a bridge across the Berbice River and the expansion and upgrading of the airport at Rose Hall, Canje, Berbice, and that it was unlikely that these promises would be kept by the next election.

What I would like to remind the writer is that the bridge, while this has not yet been achieved, is no easy task. Building such a bridge takes time and the matter is being pursued. I recalled that at the commemorating ceremony of the 25th anniversary of the Harbour Bridge that Prime Minister Samuel Hinds stated that Government is pursuing the matter of the bridge.

Berbicians need to be patient and need to realize that the County has not been neglected but that many obstacles can prevent certain things from happening immediately.

Firstly, the bridge across the river will cost $US40M and this is a huge sum. Government has been working toward acquiring those funds.

Secondly, another obstacle was that the Dutch Company, 'Balast Nedam' assigned to build the bridge pulled out of the project and other Companies had to be considered.

With regard to the upgrading of the airport at Rose Hall Canje, a feasibility study was done and there are presently some problems preventing work from taking place immediately. One such problem is the Chimney at Rose Hall, near the aerodrome. This chimney may need to be removed, and the matter is being looked into.

The chimney poses a serious problem to aircraft, passengers and people living in surrounding areas.

Nevertheless, what about other promises that have been kept to Berbicians? For instance, the Berbice University Campus and the New Amsterdam Hospital now under construction. Markets at New Amsterdam , Rose Hall, and Skeldon were also built. The writer failed to highlight these.

It seems as though some Guyanese tend to highlight only negative things in the country. In other countries, especially many in the Caribbean and elsewhere, crime is also on the increase, but it is not sensationalized as much as it is in Guyana. We need to begin having a balance where reporting issues in the country is concerned.

Positive things should also be made mention of, and as far as I have noted, Berbice has not been forgotten.
Ramnarine.