Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI) Hon. Maurice Lake on Wednesday met with the Cay Hill Community Council and concerning a number of issues including those related to community infrastructure. The visit also included a walk-through in a so-called shanty town on the hillside. A follow-up meeting is planned with the council.
Council members spoke about the resurfacing of the Wellgelegen road; waste water running on the Puma road; drainage issues in the area; garbage bins; parking; and stray dogs in the neighborhood.
Also discussed was the sewage plant at the Executive Building in Cay Hill, and how repairs need to be carried out to prevent raw sewage from running on the streets.
The walk-through on the hillside where there is a so-called shanty town was very revealing with a number of dwellings built too close to each other; no space for emergency vehicles to reach the area; and running waste water.
The Council has requested a piece of government property in order to build a Community Center in the vicinity of the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex.
Members of the Cay Bay Community Council would like residents to park their vehicles in their yards rather on the street. Another issue was the cleaning of side-walks in front of various homes, which the Council feels is an individual responsibility.
Minister Lake agreed that every homeowner or person residing at the respective address should have pride and keep their surroundings clean. Adding that if everybody did their bit, it would result in an entire outlook for the neighborhood where everybody is a part of and has a stake in.
"I had a fruitful meeting with the community representatives. My back to basics approach includes meeting with the various community councils and maintaining an open, regular and transparent dialogue with them.
"The issues brought forward and those that I have observed during the walk-through will be drafted into a plan of action by my Cabinet and Ministry and executed in a timely manner," Minister Hon. Maurice Lake said on Sunday.
Besides representatives of the Cay Hill Community Council, the Community Police Officer (CPO), concerned residents and representatives from Ministry VROMI were present for the walk-through.
PHOTO CUTLINE: Minister Maurice Lake (3rd from left) along with Cay Hill Community Council reps, CPO, concerned residents and Ministry VROMI officials coming down the hill after visiting the so-called hillside shanty town. DCOMM Photo