RESIDENTS of Mahaicony and nearby communities will soon benefit from the services of a resident doctor at the Mahaicony Hospital.
At a community meeting earlier this week, residents complained to Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Harripersaud Nokta, about having to travel to Georgetown to seek medical care above the level of nurses, since there was no doctor at the district hospital. There was a foreign doctor there but his tenure is up and he has since returned to his country.
Efforts to replace him were futile for several reasons, including inadequate living quarters. Regional Chairman, Mr. Harrinarine Baldeo explained to the residents that this has been rectified and a new resident doctor has been earmarked by the Ministry of Health to serve there. The doctor will take up his position shortly.
The hospital also has an ambulance to assist in transporting patients referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation by the resident doctor.
Minister Nokta was in the region to examine a new students’ hostel built by a community-minded Guyanese and to interact with residents, listen to their concerns, and see how the government could assist. He held a community meeting at Railway Line, Central Mahaicony.
Residents also raised concerns about the housing programme in Region Five. They complained about delays in obtaining house lots, as well as difficulties in paying the $90,000 required for lots at Mahaicony.
The minister noted their concerns and promised to raise these with Minister of Housing and Water, Mr. Shaik Baksh. At the residents' request, he said a team from the ministry will go to the area later to discuss individual housing problems.
Addressing their concerns about the inadequate water supply in some parts of Mahaicony, especially the new housing scheme, Mr. Nokta told residents he will forward their complaints to Minister Baksh, and see what can be done, since Guyana Water Incorporated is a private company.
The residents also complained about the deplorable state of Mary Dam and the Railway Embankment. Minister Nokta said the embankment will be rehabilitated under the US$22M Bridges Project, which also entails the construction of a bridge at Mahaicony adjoining the old railway. Mary Dam will also be repaired this year by the region.
One of the most problematic issues for residents is that of drainage and irrigation. They are contending that in many areas the heavy rains have caused flooding, as there is no proper drainage system.
Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairman, Mr. Deo Khan said residents have impeded systems put in place by the NDC to avoid flooding. He explained that some residents have built mud dams across the trenches, blocking the drainage system. Others have taken the trenches as their property.
There is also the overbearing problem of residents throwing garbage into the canals, he said. This year the region is earmarked to spend some $133M on drainage and irrigation in Region Five.
Nokta called on residents to be cooperative with the NDC and help rather than aggravate the situation. He urged them to do the “neighbourly thing” and desist from further complicating the drainage problems. Mahaicony is traditionally a low-lying village.