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