In light of a reported increase in crimes and other social ills, residents of Wales, West Bank Demerara, have called for more social programmes and access to lands to establish recreational spaces. These calls were echoed at an engagement with several Government Ministers at the Wales Community Centre Ground on Friday, where residents highlighted problems affecting youths in the area which many feel will continue with the recent closure of sugar operations the Wales Estate.
A Resident share their concerns at the Wales Community Centre on Friday about social issues affecting their community
“When the youths leave school, they have nothing to do; we no training facilities for our youth and they are all about on the road,” a resident noted. She added that teenage pregnancy as a major concern while other residents cited the prevalence of illicit drug use and other issues surrounding unemployment.
Another resident called for lands to be developed for recreational purposes and also asked the Government Ministers for financial support to this end. The resident, who identified herself as a youth activist, requested that the surrounding communities to be given lands currently owned by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). In response, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan commented that while he is sure such lands are available, permission has to be sought through the relevant chains, including the Agriculture Ministry.
One teacher noted that the ground at a nearby school is in a deplorable state and cannot be used by the children who live close by and those who attend the Patentia Secondary School.
“I don’t want the NDC (Neighbourhood Democratic Council) to fix [the school’s] ground, I’d like central government to come and intervene and fix the ground. We have a lot of children coming out of school pregnant… because they don’t have a place for proper recess so they find the activity more exciting that running on a ground which has a lot of cow holes in it,” the school teacher expressed. There is an existing ground at Wales, maintained and controlled by GuySuCo but residents noted that Toevlugt-Patentia NDC is charging a fee from residents who wish to use the facilities there.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon pointed out that the Education Ministry’s Department of Culture Youth & Sport has some of the requisite facilities to assist in correcting the problems with the grounds. He noted too that sport equipment is available for use but suggested that residents organise themselves to advocate for their requests. He also acknowledged that there needs to be more planning in the curriculum for schools to address many of the social ills, especially underage pregnancies.
In years gone by, many saw the estate as a saving grace, which in its heyday provided employment for hundreds of workers in the factory and the field and countless others via shops and the market at Wales. When word spread of the estate’s closure in January 2016, sugar workers and other residents had contended that social ills, especially crime would have increased. This fear was one reason why many Wales employees rejected proposals for them to be transferred to Uitvlugt Estate on the West Coast of Demerara. Sugar operations at Wales ceased in December 2016.
