OTTAWA RATEPAYERS HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF BREAK-INS AND CONSTANT WATER AND ELECTRICITY INTERRUPTIONS

 

(Mr Hemi Duttoo outside his house in Riverview Road. He is seen pointing to the window that the criminals had smashed to gain entry into the house. Mr Duttoo had to install new windows a few hours after the break-in.)

                                     

(The criminals, who cross over from the Ohlange River, hide in these bushes before breaking into the homes of ratepayers and residents)

 

The residents of Ottawa, especially those whose properties in Riverview Road that border the Ohlange river, are fed up with the increasing break-ins in the area.

The criminals, according to residents, invade their properties after crossing the river and hiding in the nearby thick bush.

Almost all homeowners have been the victims of break-ins over the past few years.

(These were the scenes that Mr Duttoo and his family found after they returned home to find that their property had been broken into by intruders.)

The latest incident took place at the home of Hemi Duttoo on Saturday ( April 30) when he and his family had left home to attend a family function in Effingham.

The criminals had apparently monitored their movements while hiding in a thick bush next to their home.

“They broke the burglar guards and window to gain entry into the house,” said Mr Duttoo.

“They ransacked the rooms and left the place in a real mess. It seems they were looking for jewellery and cash.”

Mr Duttoo said the property next to his house was owned by a private person who they had met only once over the past 10 years.

“This person has allowed his property to degenerate into a thick bush with huge trees. We have taken up the issue with the municipality but nothing has been done to clear the bushes and the huge trees. The criminals who come from across the river are taking advantage of this situation and target us and other residents in the area.

“We now have to take our own measures to clear the bushes.”

Mr Duttoo said the residents in Riverview and other roads had to live as prisoners in their own homes  despite the fact that every home owner had their own security and also contributed to a community security project.

“We really have to be on alert 24 hours because we are living as hostages. This is an unacceptable situation.”    

Mr Duttoo and other residents say their problems as ratepayers are not only restricted to break-ins. They also have to put up with regular water and electricity cuts on a daily basis.

Their water and electricity problems were aggravated by the recent devastating floods.

                ENVIRONMENT DEGENERATION

“Our environment is also degenerating on a daily basis with litter, filth and rubbish all over our main road and the side roads leading to the residential areas.”

They were forced to hold a protest demonstration on the Ottawa main road recently because their representations to the municipality had failed to attract positive responses over the past few years. Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com May 4 2022