A severe shortage of resources has limited the work of the Cane Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and it has not been able to perform as efficiently as it should.
Chairman Ramkumar 'Harry' Algu admitted this yesterday to a commission set up by Minister within the Ministry of Local Government, Clinton Collymore, to conduct a two-day inquiry into the operations of the East Coast NDC. The inquiry was launched to investigate issues surrounding variations of payment on a contract for the excavation of drains within the area, the replacing of an engine on a dragline, repairs to a backhoe used for drainage purposes, claims of a $1M fraud, shortages in fuel supplied by the Drainage and Irrigation Board as well as complaints made by residents with regard to inefficiencies.
Algu admitted the service to the community was not as it should be because of a lack of funds. He noted that the NDC does not collect rates and taxes because most of the households do not have transports; they hold leases and pay rent, an average of $1,000 an acre, to the government.
He said there were nine active members on the NDC right now from an original complement of 28, 18 of whom were full-time councillors. He said most had left as a result of migration and frustration. Local government elections were last held in 1994
Algu told Stabroek News after his testimony that he had received threats in the form of two letters which said he should give up the position of chairman. He said one of the missives was signed "death squad". Algu said he had not been elected chairman, but was chosen to succeed former chairman Harripersaud Gangaram who had died.
Mohammed Shahabudeen the NDC overseer supported the chairman, outlining several constraints which the NDC faced, including the inability to pay salaries on time.
The Cane Grove NDC includes such villages/communities as Manager Line, Virginia Village, Coconut Dam, Estate and Strathavon.
The commission conducting the inquiry comprises Puran Persaud, Floyd Patterson and Sebastian Babb of the Local Government Ministry. Yesterday the commission also heard from present members of the NDC including Vice Chairman Dhanarine Basdeo and Ayube Mohamed and past members. The hearing continues today in the Cane Grove NDC boardroom, at Cane Grove. (Christopher Yaw)