A Community’s Year-Long Ordeal
For over a year, residents of Sheet Anchor Village in East Canje, Berbice, have been living with an unbearable stench that permeates their daily lives. At the centre of this controversy is a fish stall owned and operated by village councillor Balchand Anantram and his family, who are attached to the #38 Ordinance Fortlands Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) in Region #6.
What makes this situation particularly distressing for residents is the location—the fish stall operates in a residential area, directly adjacent to family homes. One resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, shared a deeply personal concern: “My issue is with their councillor Balchand Anantram. He has a fish stall next door to me. I personally have two small children, one with a disability, and since 2024 the residents in the community have been pleading with them to have it removed.”
The business operation involves cleaning, scaling, and selling fish on a large scale, along with producing and selling salted fish. Multiple freezers on the premises support what has become a significant commercial operation—but one that residents say creates insanitary conditions that make daily life unbearable.
## Health Concerns Mount
The impact on residents goes beyond mere discomfort. According to complaints documented in letters addressed to President Dr. Mohamed Irfan Ali, the foul odour emanating from the stall has been so overwhelming that it sometimes leads to persons getting sick and vomiting.
“Because of the nature of business and whereby he is cleaning, scaling and selling of the fish and making and selling of salted fish on a large scale since he has multiple freezers, his business is affecting the residents in the area,” the residents’ letter to the President states.
The situation affects not only nearby homeowners but also public transportation users who must wait along the roadside near the stall. Local businesses report customers complaining about the bad odor, affecting their trade.
## A Pattern of Official Neglect
What has frustrated residents most is the apparent inaction despite numerous complaints through multiple channels. According to documents obtained by this publication, residents have lodged multiple complaints with:
– The #38 Ordinance Fortlands NDC sanitation officer
– NDC Chairman Mr. Ramsundar Phagwah
– The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
– The Regional Democratic Council (RDC)
The EPA, which is responsible for investigating environmental complaints including odour pollution, has specific enforcement powers that include issuing Warning Letters, Enforcement Notices, Prohibition Notices, Cease Orders, and even prosecution . Residents note that they even received a letter from the EPA acknowledging their complaint, proving the agency is aware of the matter.
Yet no action has been taken.
## Political Connections Raise Eyebrows
The situation has taken on a political dimension that residents find deeply troubling. In their correspondence with the President, they explicitly state their frustration: “We are frustrated at the fact that these individuals hold political positions and are abusing it for their own purpose and don’t care about the effect it has on the other residents in the area or their well-being.”
The resident who spoke with us was more direct: “Since he is PPP like them, they aren’t doing anything about it.”
This perception of political protection is reinforced by what residents describe as selective enforcement. In their complaint letter, they note that others within the same area conducting similar businesses were ordered by the #38 Ordinance Fortlands NDC to have their stalls removed with immediate effect—yet Councillor Anantram’s operation continues operating.
“Why were they ordered to be removed and not the council also? Is it because he is a council? A question the residents are concerned about,” their letter reads.
## Ministerial Visits, Empty Promises
Perhaps most galling for residents is that their plight has been brought to the attention of high-level officials on multiple occasions—with nothing to show for it.
Minister of Finance Mr. Ashni Singh visited the area twice, most recently on March 11, 2025. On both occasions, he was accompanied by Regional Executive Officer Mr. Zamal Hussein, Regional Chairman Mr. David Armogan, and NDC Chairman Mr. Phagwah. Residents lodged complaints directly with the Minister during these visits.
“On the first visit he mentioned he will be looking into the matter, nothing was done. On the second visit again residents reminded him about the matter, he mentioned he was going to look into the matter again. However, since then to present nothing was done and it’s getting worse,” the residents’ letter states.
## Exhausting All Channels
Having found no satisfaction through local government channels, the NDC, the EPA, and even direct appeals to visiting ministers, residents have now taken their case to the highest office in the land. Their July 21, 2025 letter to President Dr. Mohamed Irfan Ali represents what they describe as their “only hope.”
“We feel very unfortunate to have to be writing to you on this matter since it’s a matter that can be dealt with within the region. However, since we have not been given any satisfaction after several complaints, we feel this opportunity is our only hope,” they wrote.
The residents have been careful to document their efforts, attaching a letter from the EPA received by one resident when complaints were lodged—proof that authorities are “well aware of this matter.” They have also compiled a list of affected residents, though they declined to share this with the NDC and other local addresses, stating they are “sure to be victimized by the said individuals.”
## The Way Forward
Environmental complaints in Guyana follow a standard procedure. According to the EPA’s guidelines, members of the public can report complaints via a 24-hour hotline (592-225-5469) or email at complaint@epaguyana.org . The agency has regional offices, including one at Whim, Berbice (337-2201), which would have jurisdiction over this matter .
When complaints are received, the EPA investigates and can take various enforcement actions. The agency has previously conducted capacity-building workshops for Neighbourhood Democratic Councils to equip them with knowledge to respond to environmental complaints efficiently .
For residents who feel local authorities have failed them, the Office of the Ombudsman may represent another avenue. The Ombudsman can investigate complaints against Government Ministries and Departments, as well as local authorities including City Councils, Town Councils, and District Councils . The Ombudsman’s services are free and impartial, and the office can recommend remedies when complaints are justified .
## A Community’s Plea
For the residents of Sheet Anchor Village, the fish stall represents more than a nuisance—it’s a test of whether their government serves all citizens equally. The presence of a young child with a disability living next door to this operation adds urgency to their plea.
“We are looking forward to a positive and effective result,” they wrote in their letter, which was copied to multiple ministries including Agriculture, Local Government, Health, and Finance.
Their question remains unanswered: Why must some residents suffer while their elected representative operates with apparent impunity? And how many more complaints, how many more ministerial visits, how many more letters to the President will it take before someone acts?
As one resident put it simply: “We went through the channel to have it removed—the NDC, EPA, RDC—we even wrote to the president about it and still nothing.”
The residents of Sheet Anchor Village wait, hoping their voices will finally be heard.
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*If you are experiencing similar environmental concerns in your community, you can report complaints to the EPA at 592-225-5469 or complaint@epaguyana.org. Complaints to the Ombudsman can be made at 39 Brickdam, Stabroek, Georgetown, or by calling 226-2294.*
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