By Mark DaCosta- Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Lelon Saul, a current elected member of the Georgetown municipal council, has expressed alarm over a construction project at the Le Repentir Cemetery. Saul’s observations at the site – which he conveyed to Village Voice News – have sparked serious concerns about the lack of consultation with local authorities and potential environmental and health risks related to the ongoing works.
Saul, who holds an elected position on the Georgetown municipal council, was caught by surprise when he discovered ongoing construction activity at the southern boundary of Le Repentir Cemetery, a site of great historical and cultural significance in Georgetown. The construction site appeared busy with heavy machinery, including an excavator, as well as several workers and what appeared to be a work-hut and a site-office. His immediate response, as a responsible councillor, was to investigate further, but he was shocked to find that no one from the municipal council had been informed about the project.
“I was previously unaware of any such works,” Saul remarked, highlighting the fact that, as a council member with oversight of the area, the council had not been consulted about the project. It was especially concerning to Saul that, according to the law, any infrastructure works in the municipality should be subject to the approval and oversight of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).
Saul made inquiries on-site and learned from the cemetery sexton that the works were being carried out by Sheriff Construction, a company contracted by the Ministry of Public Works, which falls under the central government.
The sexton told Saul that the construction was part of a road-building project aimed at linking Mandala Avenue with Cemetery Road, with the work being done at the direction of the central government. However, Saul was alarmed that neither the M&CC nor any local authority had been consulted, as is required by law for any public works within their jurisdiction. “The PPP regime is flouting the laws of Guyana and taking it upon itself to give contracts to companies while not even informing, much less consulting with local government authorities,” Saul said in an interview with Village Voice News (VVN).
Upon closer inspection of the site, Saul noted several disturbing features. A large earthen dam, approximately 12 feet wide, had been created. The dam appeared to be the foundation of the road under construction. Additionally, a deep drainage ditch, roughly 4 feet wide and 4 feet deep, had also been dug along the boundary of the cemetery. The ditch ran very close to the tombs within the cemetery, some of which were only 1 or 2 feet away from the excavation. This posed a serious risk of soil erosion, particularly in the rainy season, which could threaten the stability of the graves.
“It requires no stretch of the imagination to envisage a situation in which soil erosion could occur, compromising the integrity of the tombs holding dead bodies,” Saul observed. Given the proximity of the construction to the tombs, there was genuine concern that heavy rains could wash away soil from the cemetery, undermining the integrity of the graves and potentially exposing human remains to the elements. In our country, where rainfall is particularly heavy during the rainy season, the risks of erosion are heightened, and Saul expressed deep unease about the potential consequences for the cemetery.
Adding to his concerns was the possibility that the graves themselves may be located precisely where the ditch had been already dug. “There may be deceased persons interred at the exact spot where the drain was dug,” Saul noted, underlining the uncertainty surrounding the impact of the excavation on the final resting places of many Georgetown residents. This, Saul said, added a layer of sensitivity to the issue, as the cemetery holds great emotional value for the families of those interred there.
“Nothing about the works was known to the Mayor and City Council,” Saul said. The lack of communication with and involvement from local government authorities is worrying, Saul said, considering that the accepted principles of good governance require consultation with councils before any infrastructure works are undertaken in their jurisdiction.
Saul also pointed to the broader pattern of governance he perceives under the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP). He accused the government of routinely bypassing local authorities in favour of centralised decision-making, which he believes undermines the role of local governments and disregards the interests of the communities they represent. He also expressed frustration with what he called a “disregard” for meşru procedures and public consultation. “The PPP regime has no respect nor regard for elected local government authorities,” he asserted.
Furthermore, there have been ongoing allegations of cronyism, with claims that the PPP administration awards contracts to companies with close ties to party officials. These companies, some of which are reportedly owned by PPP members, are accused of bypassing established procedures designed to protect public safety, environmental integrity, and public welfare.
Saul’s observations at the Le Repentir Cemetery construction site have revealed serious concerns about transparency, local governance, and the protection of public spaces in Georgetown. The failure of the central government to consult with the municipal council or follow due process in this instance highlights ongoing issues in local governance, including the lack of respect for elected officials and a disregard for established laws and procedures. Given the potential risks posed to the cemetery, the community, and public health, it is clear that these concerns warrant further scrutiny and immediate action to ensure proper oversight and accountability.