Dharm Shala, Berbice
Criminal elements making life difficult
By Nigel Williams
Stabroek News
March 29, 2003
Criminal elements have been terrorising the residents of the Dharm Shala at Sheet Anchor, Canje, which caters for the less fortunate.
According to the Caretaker/Supervisor of the home, Joseph Barclay, who has worked there since October of last year, his predecessor had been unable to cope any longer because of setbacks caused by criminal elements in the area.
It had been reported that on three occasions the home for the indigent had been broken into and robbed, while residents had been terrorised by bandits believed to be drug addicts.
In September last year bandits broke the front door and louvre windows, gaining entry to the building. Then they tied up and harassed the residents there before making off with clothing, groceries and cash.
Barclay said that on several occasions criminal elements had invaded the compound, and that they also loitered around the area at nights as the place was very dark. He does, however, perform a security role, drawing on his previous military training to protect the residents and grounds of the Dharm Shala.
Residents
A number of aged residents live in the Dharm Shala - some have no relatives to care for them while others have been rejected by their kith and kin - and they all call the place home.
The female dormitory has some 15 beds, but at present only four women occupy it; another one died recently at the age of 95.
The male dormitory, however, has 14 beds and full occupancy.
Like several others, Rajdai Ramphal, 68, who has been residing at the Dharm Shala for some three years had few complaints about the institution she now calls home.
Ramphal told Stabroek News that she had never gone to bed hungry since her stay at the home, but she would really appreciate it if someone could donate a television set and some games for her and the others to occupy their time, since they had no recreational facilities.
She said that she had no relatives alive and life had become rather lonely.
Another resident, Mrs Cartoon, 64, said she had been living at the home for some 15 years because all her family members had passed away and she was left alone with nowhere to go. She was now experiencing severe pains in her legs and living at the Dharm Shala was the only option she had.
Edward Richardson, 74, who is nursing a broken hand said that for the past 14 years his home had been the Dharm Shala; he too had no family members.
Barclay said that the Dharm Shala had two dormitories, a mess hall, a place of worship and cooking quarters.
Water problem
The organisation receives a subvention from its George-town headquarters and various philanthropic persons donated foodstuff, clothing and other items for the residents.
However, the supervisor said that they needed an in-house doctor to care for the residents, since many of them were very advanced in age and sickly.
In addition to the crime problem, there was also a water problem with only one pipeline supplying the home with water. And that pipeline is sited at the gate of the compound in a pit in the ground, forcing the feeble residents to bend over to reach the water which they must then fetch in order to bathe and cook.
Besides the water pressure is very low and a bucket takes a while before it is filled and the lavatory area of both dorms had to be shut down because of a lack of water.
The caretaker said that many of the residents are lonely and depressed; sometimes they get sick and have to be hospitalised. He is appealing to the Region Six administration to assist the home by clearing the bushes around it because of the criminal elements in the area, as well as to lessen the mosquito nuisance. (Michel Moses)
