Windsor Park residents vocalised their frustrations with tenement yards and ‘slum living’, traffic woes and a never-ending fight against illegal parking to senior police officers and politicians during a community meeting on Thursday, 18 July.
The gathering, called by MP Barbara Conolly, was attended by some 30 residents with the purpose of addressing the recent stabbing death of Rodney Rivers.
Rivers, 59, of George Town was found dead at an address off Short Lane in Windsor Park on Saturday, 13 July.
“We understand that the community is shocked and outraged by this death. But I just wanted to reassure you that we are addressing the matter and the police are actively investigating,” said Conolly, before handing the conversation over to police.
However, before Police Inspector Ian Yearwood could address the matter, the conversation was quickly redirected.
“This large type of crime happens because police are allowing the smaller crimes to go by and do nothing, and so it just builds up and gets worse,” said activist and outspoken resident Romellia Welcome.
Welcome noted the numerous complaints she has filed with police about illegal parking, traffic woes and slum living.
“There are slumlords, not just here, but in other communities that I frequent, like the Swamp,” she said. “What happens is that they have rented these places and people don’t have anywhere to park so they just park on the side of the road, and now there is nothing but illegal parking on every street that you go to.”
Noel Cayasso-Smith also voiced his concern, which he says continues to fall on deaf ears.
“My house has been devalued by almost $5,000 because of the horrible living conditions that are now on my street. I’m so embarrassed to even drive people to my home from the front road now because of the condition,” he said. “But I’m tired of talking and getting no results.”
Another resident who also took the opportunity to voice her concern noted that loud, vulgar music was a perpetual nuisance that she has had to endure without assistance from police.
“I can’t sleep at night because the music is just too loud, day in, day out, and through the night. It’s nothing but loud, vulgar music that vibrates and shakes my walls,” she said.
Another, less hopeful resident was quick to add, “Don’t make sense to complain. They ain’t going do nothin’. We been down this road how many times and it’s always the same result – nothin’,” he said.
Fine and prosecutions are the answer
In an attempt to openly communicate with the resident, senior officers Roje Williams and Ian Yearwood noted that several of the issues were civic matters that rested with other government agencies and departments.
“The issues about tenement yards and slumlords is really an issue that should be before the Planning Department, and what you will find is that once that is solved, other issues such as illegal parking will disappear,” Williams said.
Yearwood added, “Yes, we have the power to issue tickets and fines and recommend prosecutions, and we do at times, but that won’t solve the underlying issue.”
He added, “We can’t ticket our way out of this.”
When addressing the issue of loud music, both officers noted the troubles of outdated and antiquated legislation.
“The current law dates back to the 1990s and that’s a revision of a law from the 1970s,” Williams said. “The law requires that we have to give the suspect at least two warnings whenever a complaint is made, and then bring the process of prosecution.
He added, “But even that won’t stop the problem. These are issues for your lawmakers.”
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