PRIME Minister Sam Hinds and a delegation which included Minister of Local Government, Mr Harripersaud Nokta and Regional Chairman of Region Four, Mr Allan Munroe, yesterday visited Enterprise, Bachelors Adventure and Beirut following tensions in those East Coast communities on Monday.

As the delegation passed through the communities the villagers who turned out in large numbers at their gates and street junctions in Enterprise welcomed the leaders warmly and greeted them with hugs and handshakes.

They expressed gratitude that swift action was taken to intercede on their behalf, but assured the Prime Minister that the problem which erupted in the neighbourhood all started because of rumors spread by insensitive persons.

In both Enterprise and Bachelors Adventure the residents claimed that they were very disturbed over the recent development and wished it had never happened.

They said that for years the two communities had co-existed with each side depending on the other for the services they provide. They reasoned that it would do no one any good for the two sides to continue hating each other and preparing for war.

The Prime Minister assured the residents that he had visited them because he was concerned over the problems that had erupted in the neighbourhood and desired to see it return to a state of normalcy.

"Altogether, we want to find ways of restoring trust within the communities", he said.

Residents who went out to meet the officials agreed that rumours blown out of proportion had created the problems which can probably leave deep psychological scars on them.

On Monday morning word swept through the East Coast Demerara that persons had threatened to burn the Enterprise Primary School down and that others had responded by turning up at the school with cutlasses and guns. Terribly frightened, children from both the Primary and Nursery departments began evacuating the school, even as the teachers who were holding an emergency staff meeting remained unaware of the threats until the school was practically empty.

As word reached Georgetown, Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Ronald Gajraj, senior officials of the Army and Police Force, as well as Munroe visited the area and spoke with incensed residents of Enterprise, Bachelors Adventure and Beirut.

Many concerns were raised by the residents yesterday, including feelings of neglect while neighbouring villages were being provided for. They informed the Prime Minister that though they had been occupying the land at Beirut for more than 10 years they still do not have electricity, water nor any of the facilities required for a growing community.

The residents also claim that they want a school of their own since their population was fast increasing. There are about 500 families in Beirut and they have no school.

They claim that because of the recent tensions which started - not on Monday, but about two weeks ago - they felt threatened and ill at ease to send their children back to school at Enterprise.

They also said they would have felt better if President Bharrat Jagdeo had visited them himself than send a representative.

"We have grievances which we want him to address," they said.

After listening to their concerns, Prime Minister Hinds advised them to hold a meeting among themselves and nominate five leaders who would be able to meet Minister Nokta and discuss the problems they had just raised such as water, electricity and the need for a school.