Covered with bushes and unwanted shrubbery, the community grounds and centres across the West Coast of Demerara have been in a state of despair and regional councils have been trying to resuscitate these structures with little assistance from Central Government.
The current state of the Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara Community Centre
Attention was placed on the Cornelia Ida Community Centre, which is partially inaccessible, but even if residents gained entry, they would be disenchanted to see the dreadful surrounding which awaits them. Along with the high bushes, there is an old and dilapidated structure which is isolated.
However, Deputy Chairman of the Cornelia Ida/Stewartville Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Paul Narine told Guyana Times on Monday that there are several public spaces along the stretch of road which requires rehabilitation.
He explained that the Department of Sport is responsible for injecting funds to facilitate any upgrading of these sport grounds. Consequently, there has been little support in terms of financial assistance. On the NDC’s part, there is no substantial income to cushion these expenses.
“The Department of Sport does normally give a grant to these project but for the longest while, all of that change. The NDC is small and cannot generate no big income to do these kind of rehabilitation. It’s very hard on the NDC,” said Narine.
It was related that the only responsibility that the Council can undertake is to weed the bushes and conduct a small land clearing. At another Stewartville Ground, attempts were made to construct a concrete pitch so that youths can be afforded the facilities to better their skills. From the subvention provided for the year, he would have asked for lights to be installed at the ground but two lights would cost some $500,000.
“The only maintenance that the NDC is doing is weed the bushes or whatever to make it accessible. That’s all the NDC is doing. If they fix one ground at a time for us, it would good for the community. Like for the one in Stewartville, we finish the fencing and this activity started four years ago. In order to get the youths occupied, we had to make do with what we had and build a concrete pitch for the rainy season. This year, I asked for money for two lights which is $500,000 but I don’t know if the money would be given for us to do these things,” the Deputy Chairman insisted.
Narine stressed the importance of these structures as they serve as a recreational activity for persons, primarily children, within the various communities. A such, calls were made for attention to be placed on these facilities, as well as assistance from the Government.
“I don’t know if we can get some money from Central Government to get the ground up and running. The NDC get $4 million every year to divide among 10 constituencies so it’s not a big amount we get to use to do these works. By the time we put a fence and wait for money the next year, half of the fence is there.” (Rupadai Seenarine)
