By Telesha Ramnarine

SIXTY-four-year-old Ramdai Janet Dorie could not hold back the tears as she reflected on how hard she worked to save every dollar towards building her own home. These were not tears of joy however – they represented the anguish she felt in her heart over those who have been ruthlessly stealing materials off of her house. Dorie’s house is located at Block B, Mocha Road Third Bridge, Herstelling Housing Scheme, on the East Bank Demerara; an area that is still being developed so there are tall bushes, no street

The virtually impassable street leading to Dorie’s house

lights and few houses that people have actually occupied.

Since there is hardly anything that Ms. Dorie can do about this unfortunate situation and she cannot think of any agency that might be willing to provide any practical assistance to her; she then resorted to writing to President David Granger and to a few news agencies, including the Guyana Chronicle.

In addition, another option she explored was finding a company that may be able to install a security system at her house that can monitor the activities there when she is not around. This proved too costly and Dorie had no choice but to abandon the idea.

The elderly woman, in an interview at the Chronicle on Tuesday, expressed her hopelessness in tears, along with some amount of optimism that something good may come out of the fact that her plight is being highlighted.

Dorie is eager to have the house completed, having saved enough to secure a bank loan with which she started works. But the project is stalled every time the thieves break in.

$1.6M in LOSSES
For the four times that the bandits have broken in so far, Dorie estimates her losses to be around $1.6M. “Many other persons have the same problem in the area. About two streets away from me, a woman lost 52 sacks of cement. I’m confused at the moment. I’m trying to see how much I can save in the meantime so I can resume work.”

The last time the bandits struck was on the night of the jubilee celebrations and after the police were summoned, they told Dorie that they could not obtain fingerprints as they were smudged. “They caught one of the thieves but the people in the area don’t want to come forward; they don’t want to become a target.”

SAVING FOR 20 YEARS
Although Dorie is an educator, poet, writer, author, and ardent sports personality who has played cricket at an international level, she said she currently sells a few items on the streets, including clothing, to make a living.

“Sometimes I don’t buy clothes and food for myself. I make sacrifices like the old people say, ‘Cut your eye and tie your belly.’ I sell little things on the streets. Sometimes I help a friend do some work and she gives me some money. I have been saving, saving all my money and I went to the bank and they gave me a loan so I was able to build my house.”

Dorie is also a diabetic and has issues with her cholesterol. “I have to pay for my own medical bills and I don’t go in anyone’s way to beg or thief. I work assiduously to save my money. I have been saving for the house over 20 years and working very hard. If you see my hands; they are hard, corny.”

Meanwhile, in a letter to the editor, Dorie said in part that she worked along with the contractor through blood, sweat and tears until thieves started stealing doors, windows, and many other items off of the house.

PLEA
“The stress has now become extremely unbearable. Apart from losing materials, risking to lose my house to the bank, my life is at risk for I am a senior citizen who has numerous medical conditions. In addition, I have no husband, no children, and even no neighbour. Only bushes and more bushes and I am desperate!

“People are seeing but are helpless, since there is no telephone line, no street light, and only bushes where thieves take refuge. I had to put on my own street light and should you visit me, you can feel the hauntedness around the area.

“During the day, you can see a lot of strange faces ‘susing’ out their victims. It seems as though they speculate during the day and they strike during the night with their waiting vehicles. It is alleged that they sell stolen articles to those who are building. As such, I suggest that heavier penalties be levied to those buyers.

“I call upon all those in position to look into this matter as early as possible. Upon reading this letter, I wish that someone may call me and see how they can help, for I have lost far more than I can afford to deal with the bank. I am desperate. Please. I plead for help.”