Corbin visits Annandale
Pledges to help restore peace
By Nigel Williams
Stabroek News
February 7, 2003
PNCR leader Robert Corbin yesterday visited Annandale pledging to help restore peace in the crime-besieged village and embraced the weeping widow of Basil Singh who was murdered by armed men when they attempted to rob his Gale Street grocery last year.
Indranie Singh was too distraught to speak to Corbin and while standing in front of him she broke down in tears. “I can’t say anything, I don’t have the strength to say anything, you see deh come hay and kill mi husband.”
Corbin, the newly elected PNCR leader, embraced her and pledged to do all in his power to restore peace in the East Coast Demerara village. He also offered his sympathy to her on his and his party’s behalf.
Corbin and a team of the party’s central executive members and supporters embarked on the fact-finding mission to the village yesterday afternoon. This is the first of several visits to various communities and the party is expected to travel to Buxton today.
Scores of residents yesterday came to their gates to welcome Corbin and his team into the area. For some it was an initiative which should have been taken first by the government while for others it did not matter who made the first step, saying that both the ruling party and the PNCR were responsible for the problem in the area.
Annandale and neighbouring villages have been plagued by crimes committed by gangs emanating from Buxton/Friendship and there have been numerous robberies and murders. As part of attempts to bring the situation under control, the government recently erected barriers at strategic points between Annandale and Buxton/Friendship.
At an earlier press conference, the PNCR said the decision of the government to erect barricades across the railway embankment road in the vicinity of Buxton was disappointing and dangerous.
Asked about the findings of his visit Corbin said, “first of all I found that the people here are genuine Guyanese who have been accustomed to living in harmony with their neighbours and would like that to continue.”
He said he had not found one iota of prejudice. According to him his party’s next step is to work to create the conditions in Guyana “so that people can feel comfortable living across communities, that we don’t have to barricade it, hence we have to look at the root causes of all the people that they can feel at home with one another.”
He said the barricades have resulted in a slowing down of business for many of the shop owners in Annandale. “One tailor said the majority of his customers came from Buxton so that the barricade now is hampering his business opportunities and it is indeed a physical separation of what they are doing.”
He declared it was time for all to work together in harmony so that the people themselves could move to bridge the gap with the aid of those who have political clout and power. Asked to comment on barricades put up by residents of Annandale on the borders of the village as a means of protecting themselves Corbin said, physical barriers cannot help to heal our problem. “We have to find a way of moulding the people and dealing with the root causes. It certainly does not spell well for the future, and can help build up other problems.”
However, some of the residents said the barricades have slowed down the attacks and when asked to comment Corbin said, “well I suspect that anything that can help anyone who is threatened at the moment will be useful, but none of them that I have spoken to have told me openly that the barricades are good for them and protecting them. Most of them that I have spoken to recognised that they would like to avoid the barricades even if it is a temporary measure.”
During the hour and a half walk in both North and South Annandale many residents shared their views and solutions to the crime situation. Among those in the delegation were central executive members, Jerome Khan, Volda Lawrence, Deborah Backer, Clarissa Riehl, General Secretary of the party, Oscar Clarke, Faith Harding, Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council of Region Four, Alan Munroe, Hamley Case, Chairman of the Foulis/Buxton NDC, Randolph Blair.
Alim Noorhassan a businessman of Annandale has been subjected to threats and robberies from unknown criminals over the past months. He said: “This is something which should have been done a long time now but it is a very good move. We certainly have many problems here and we have always been asking for someone to come and hear our problems, so the visit by the party is really a good one.”
He said the initiative of reaching out to the people was the best step anyone could take at this time.
Kumar who lives south of the village said he has been living in the area for over 40 years and has yet to have any criminal encounters with Buxtonians. The man said while he has been affected somewhat by the tension, his home was never attacked.” Since I know myself everybody used to live together in this place, but I don’t know how come this sudden attack.”
The man said the barriers would certainly divide them and it was not something they wanted at this time. “Crime and criminals are everywhere, we residents here like things peaceful and quiet, we want to live good with our neighbours.”
Rajin Lallman a lumberyard dealer said since he was robbed last December he has been closing up his business very early and has been doing business behind a closed gate. The man embraced Corbin and said he felt very happy with the visit. “All of my customers come from Buxton and with this ting that is happening people hardly coming here to do business. I am really glad if you can do something, you can make difference.”
Hardat, a tailor of thirty years said he was attacked twice last year by armed bandits. His brother who lives next door was also attacked and channa bombs and grenades were hurled at his home. Questioned about the situation by Corbin, Hardat said, “well for now things calm, but those barriers will not help, you see there is a back street where the men dem can come through.”
Hardat told Corbin that he would support him as long as he was willing to help bring about change. “We want calm and peace in this area. This is from my heart I welcome you any time here. I am glad that someone has finally come to hear my plight. I want you to work with the President for peace in Annandale.”
Ramraj Sukhoo said, “sometime I am home and hear guns firing and that’s all have been happening here for the longest while. I think this visit though will help, for no one apart from you has come in here.”
Some residents complained about the lack of employment opportunities and the many times they were caught in the crossfire between police and criminals. Things were calm in the village yesterday and there were no reports of crimes.
