Taking away from our children — Elton McRae — Opinion

Taking away from our children

September 1, 2026·6 min read

Dear Editor,

Schools reopened on Monday, 31st August, and pupils of the nursery school in my neighbourhood were greeted with a reduced educational environment. This is simply because the Beterverwagting / Triumph NDC made a decision that is taking away from our children.

In a letter which the Kaieteur News published on Friday August 7 2026, I asked the question, “Am I a second-class citizen in my own community”. Since then, the project to erect the new fence has progressed unhindered, though many have been making comments placing me in a seemingly fortunate or unfortunate position. From indicators on the ground, it is assumed that the NDC decided to extend the drainage trench to align its centre line to the current structure north of Jardim Street. The intent is to link the current Jardim Street trench with the North South drain on Surat Drive. Effectively what the NDC intends is to redesign the drainage network of the community, and in doing so establish an unnecessary loop. The NDC’s rationale for redesigning the drainage system is because the road and drainage works currently being executed by the Ministry of Works along Republic Drive (BV/Triumph main road) has disrupted the community’s drainage, which everyone knows is a temporary condition.

Yet, the NDC have decided to over lay permanent change to the drainage network because they are confronted with a temporary problem. The neighbourhood suffered a period of prolong flooding between December and June because of the current road and drainage works being executed by the Ministry of Public Works.^[1] I am sure had they consulted with the Ministry of Public Works systems for relief could have been implemented as necessary for the duration of the project.

Instead, they chose the option to spend big. In this instance, they decided to:

remove approximately 400 feet of fencing which from all appearances were not necessary, inclusive of a gate.
build 120 feet of concrete trench, which I remind is not a necessary structure.
remove approximately 3000 sq. ft. of playing area from children.

An inspection of the portion of fence on the North and East of the property would reveal a sturdy fence far removed from one to be replaced. The portion of fence that was removed from the West and South of the compound was erected at the same time as the portion that remained.

The monies allotted to the removal of a strong fence, build another fence, landscape the compound and construct a concrete trench could have been put to better within our community. This project certainly falls within the category of ‘money for the boys & girls.’

Let us assume that the proposed drainage trench did pass the test of a necessary structure. Couldn’t it have been a covered structure so as not to diminish the play area of the children?

Most of the commenters are of the view that the reduction of the play area available to the pupils is unconscionable. Their comments seem to suggest that the NDC is a visionless bunch that plans without a focus of the developmental needs of our children. It is clear they chose to insult the engineers from the Roads Division of the Ministry of Public Works with whom they should have a working relationship relative to the impacts of the road and drainage works being executed in the community. Instead of turning to the engineers for assistance, these village fathers decided that they should redesign our drainage network; the result of which in my view would simply be an attempt to spend monies which could have been better used.

Notwithstanding the gross misuse of funds, the most egregious result of all is the taking away of playing space from the pupils of the Triumph Nursery School. It is known that all work and no play make Jack a dull boy.

The literature on the need for physical activities relative to child growth is boundless, within these writings are research results on the mental and cognitive benefits derived from such behaviours. Yet our Council on which sits persons with background in education chose to reduce the compound of the Triumph Nursery School so as to create space which would eventually become parking space for a Chinese Supermarket.

Yours truly,
Elton McRae
Resident of Triumph Village

References

Triumph road works maroon residents, phone cables cut - Stabroek News — www.stabroeknews.com ↩

Am I a second-class citizen in my own community? - Kaieteur News

kaieteurnewsonline.com · 2026-08-07

Am I a second-class citizen in my own community? - Kaieteur News ## Am I a second-class citizen in my own community? Aug 07, 2026 Letters Dear Editor, ... Last November I wrote to the BV/Triumph NDC to utilise part of the parapet (Council’s reserve) opposite my place of abode. ... In my letter to the council, I specified the boundaries of the reserve I intended to utilise and usage. ... - The area of interest is north of Jardim Street, bounded to the East and North by the Triumph Nursery School fence and ends at the west in line with the Eastern boundary of the plot owned by Ms. Clarissa Stephens (The Archers). - I intend to have the area concreted for use as an extension of my workshop (welding of vehicles etc), storage of items produced and parking. ... I operate an engineering establishment and from time to time have need to handle jobs which cannot be accommodated within the boundaries of my premises. ... To date the Council have not responded to my request. However, after some months after sending the request, I met the NDC’s Chair-person and asked her about the status of the request and in a rather nonchalant way said “It was not approved” ... Today I observed an excavator working in the compound of the Triumph Nursery school. ... - It took down the southern fence - It also did some landscaping on the southern side of the compound. ... I approached the person whom I assumed to be the contractor he told me that he was moving the most Southern portion of the fence to line up with what was once the drainage canal. I asked why he said the land south of where he’ll put the fence is gazetted as reserve. That would result in the reduction of the play area for pupils of the school. ... A bit of history of that canal it was filled up in the 70’s as it became defunct. However, recently a portion was reopened to the end, at the western boundary of where the abattoir once was. The land where the abattoir was and a vacant piece east of it now is the compound of the Nursery School. ... The land on which I live is the place of my birth. My memory of the neighbourhood stretches back to the late 50s, and I recollected that the southern fence of the abattoir in the general location of the fence that was removed yesterday. In other words that was never a part of village reserve, hence any such designation is of recent vintage. ... What I recognised is that the council is facilitating a Chinese business which is operating at the junction of Jardim and Surat Drive (next door to me) to have parking space the same I requested to have and was not acted upon. The difference I requested to utilise Council’s reserve, while they are prepared to create (as the contractor said by gazetting an area which previously was not). In other words, it is an attempt to carry favour to the Chinese operating at the corner. Two years ago the Chinese who were erecting the structure which evolved to be this Supermarket intimated when a bit of violation was identified said MI GI SHI SHI TING. ... I mentioned the treatment meted out to me a villager to two business persons at the street end and was told by both, the council instructed that they occupy the reserve in front of me in order to create parking for another Chinese business which has only today opened its door at the junction of Jardim and Republic Drive (BV Main Road). ... Should these two vendors move their businesses would suffer as they would no longer be on what is considered a main thoroughfare. ... In closing I ask ... - Why are Chinese businesses given preferences before to businesses of villagers”? - Why is the play area for our children being taken away to facilitate a Chinese Business? ... Elton McRae

Other references

Chinese businesses being given preference over ... - Kiskadee Watch

kiskadeewatch.com · 2026-08-06

Chinese businesses being given preference over Triumph villagers - Kiskadee Watch # Chinese businesses being given preference over Triumph villagers By Staff Editor Thu, August 6 2026, 2:04 AM GMT-4 Dear Editor, Last November I wrote to the BV/Triumph NDC to utilise part of the parapet (Council’s reserve) opposite my place of abode. In my letter to the council I specified the boundaries of the reserve I intended to utilise and usage. The area of interest is north of Jardim Street, bounded to the East and North by the Triumph Nursery School’s fence and ends at the west in line with the Eastern boundary of the plot owned by Ms Clarissa Stephens (The Archers). I intend to have the area concreted for use as an extension of my workshop (welding of vehicles etc), storage of items produced and parking. I operate an engineering establishment and from time to time have need to handle jobs which cannot be accommodated within the boundaries of my premises. To date the Council has not responded to my request. However, some months after sending the request, I met the NDC’s Chair-person and asked her about the status of the request and in a rather nonchalant way said “It was not approved”. Yesteday I observed an excavator working in the compound of the Triumph Nursery School. - It took down the southern fence – It also did some landscaping on the southern side of the compound. I approached the person whom I assumed to be the contractor. He told me that he was moving the most southern portion of the fence to line up with what was once the drainage canal. I asked why? He said the land south of where he’ll put the fence is gazetted as a reserve. That would result in the reduction of the play area for pupils of the school. A bit of history of that canal. It was filled up in the 70’s as it became defunct. However, recently a portion was reopened to end at the western boundary of where the abattoir once was. The land where the abattoir was and a vacant piece east of it now is the compound of the Nursery School. The land on which I live is the place of my birth. My memory of the neighbourhood stretches back to the late 50s, and I recollected that the southern fence of the abattoir in the general location of the fence that was removed on Tuesday. In other words that was never a part of the village reserve, hence any such designation is of recent vintage. What I recognised is that the council is facilitating a Chinese business which is operating at the junction of Jardim and Surat Drive (next door to me) to have parking space, the same I requested to have and was not acted upon. The difference was I requested to utilise Council’s reserve, while they are prepared to create (as the contractor said by gazetting an area which previously was not). In other words, it is an attempt to curry favour with the Chinese operating at the corner. I mentioned the treatment meted out to me a villager to two business persons at the street end and was told by both, the council instructed that they occupy the reserve in front of me in order to create parking for another Chinese business which has only yesterday opened its door at the junction of Jardim and Republic Drive (BV Main Road). Should these two vendors move their businesses would suffer as they would no longer be on what is considered a main thoroughfare. In closing I ask: Why are Chinese businesses given preferences before businesses of villagers? Why is the play area for our children being taken away to facilitate a Chinese Business? Yours faithfully, Elton McRae Resident of Triumph Village

Sources

Taking away from our children in Kaieteur News, September 1, 2026
Taking away from our children in Kiskadee Watch, September 1, 2026

Triumph road works maroon residents, phone cables cut - Stabroek News

www.stabroeknews.com · 2012-12-06

Stabroek News December 6, 2012 Road works in Triumph have caused discomfort for residents of the East Coast Demerara village and damage to telephone cables and the contractor who was hired by the Regional Democratic Council of Region Four says he won’t be reimbursing the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T). ... However, at Republic Drive, Triumph, East Coast Demerara, where the works are ongoing, GT&T officials said they are evaluating the extent of the damage and are working on the replacement of the cables after which they will complete the paperwork. As a result, one official stated, the cost of damage could not be estimated at this time. “There is semi-major damage here. ... We are working on replacing the cable and pipes and hopefully this will be finished by (today),” the man stated, adding that the contractor will be required to pay for the damage caused. ... Meanwhile, residents say that while they are thankful for the repair of the street which has been in a deplorable state and virtually impassable, the manner in which the contractors are working has caused concern. ... “They dug this place since last Wednesday without informing residents or anybody. They are very inexperienced people… they dug out the GT&T cables so the entire housing scheme is without phone service. The entire underground cable is destroyed. They are supposed to be repairing roads but have only created a mess,” a resident told this newspaper. ... The resident said that the technique the contractors have used seems strange as they have dug the entire road, leaving residents without a passageway to drive or even a footpath. “We have to have access to the roads in case of an emergency, supposed someone falls sick? … I know when the Ministry of Public Works did work they did half and leave half so people can come and go out,” she recalled. ... Residents explained that they are forced to use Dasrath Street which is located along the seawall but as the road work moves up in front of their homes, the residents are boxed in. ... Regional Executive Officer, Deolall Rooplall, told this newspaper that the $4,277,254 road work project began some nine days ago and the regional council had initially set out to patch the surface but found that it was beyond patching. “Further investigation revealed that the foundation would’ve gone, totally eroded. It was made with all sorts of stuff that people would have just patched with over the years,” he stated. ... He added too that commercial activities in the area had increased in terms of heavy machinery businesses and as a result containers, excavators and other similar vehicles would use that specific pathway. “Quite a number of business places would have now ventured into this area so the foundation of the road itself would have been inadequate for the heavy traffic… So we decided to re-do the entire foundation and build it up because in a couple of weeks it would have gone again,” he explained. ... With regards to the complaints made by residents of the road being done on the entire width, Ambedkar stated that the budget of the regional system does not facilitate large scale construction and as such the narrow road could not be widened to allow what residents had described. “I cannot go and find money to invest in an 18 feet wide road. The maximum we can go is 14 feet. The width does not allow us to do half and leave half,” he posited. ... It was noted that bad weather conditions had caused the work to be stalled but it should be completed within the next three to four days providing that there is good weather. In July of this year, residents of that area threatened to block Republic Drive, suggesting that it would have been the only way to persuade the authorities to fix it.

Press Release: 1,000 small contractors commence drainage works across city – Department of Public Information, Guyana

dpi.gov.gy · 2026-07-15

Press Release: ... – Department of Public Information ... The Ministry of Public Works has awarded approximately 1,000 fixed-rate contracts under its small-contractor model over the last three weeks. This initiative allows new, local contractors to participate in the development of their communities, particularly across the city in Region Four. This was disclosed by the Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, on Wednesday during a live broadcast via the ministry’s Facebook page. ... The minister addressed concerns raised about the quality of work being executed by the contractors, who are stationed across various communities in the city. He outlined the scope of works listed in each contract signed by the awardees, as he emphasised the ministry’s stringent monitoring and inspection approach to ensure the works being done are of a high standard. “All the persons who have signed what is known as drainage contracts, their scope of works entails providing for the desilting of the drains by removing, whether manually or by machine, all existing silt, slush, and vegetation debris. This is inclusive of clearing under bridges and cleaning culverts as directed by the engineers,” Minister Edghill stated. “Let me make it clear, these contracts are not for people to just come and weed the road edge, dip out a couple of buckets of slush, and move on.” ... He stated, “With this exercise, you are the beneficiary. The citizens of Georgetown are the beneficiaries. We have the weather; it’s a good time for us to do the desilting, and it must be done properly. All the existing slush, debris, and vegetation, when removed from the drains, must be placed in a truck and carted away. It cannot be taken out of the drain and placed on the road shoulder. The contract stipulates it must be carted away and dumped.” The drainage works also entail the thorough cleaning of all alleyways. Road shoulders, verges, and parapets ought to be grubbed, ensuring the removal of all overburdens and other materials, including all encroachments and accumulated garbage on the road shoulders. ... “These contractors that have ... out there also have to remove all ... accumulated garbage. It doesn’t mean that householders can come out now and when they see the truck, bring out garbage to put in them. They are cleaning the shoulders. Garbage collection continues based upon the Mayor and City Council’s schedule,” Minister Edghill emphasised. This massive exercise complements the government’s vision to revive the Garden City into a modern, resilient, and well-connected city through a series of beautification and enhancement projects. ... Residents are encouraged to report concerns as it relates to the cleaning works and/or any other matters via the Ministry of Public Works hotline [624-2964]. The Ministry remains strictly committed to advancing infrastructural development at all levels. ... Regular updates on these beautification and drainage enhancement projects will continue to be provided via the ministry’s official website and social media channels.