Month in and month out, residents attend ratepayers’ meetings in the hope that they will bring about change in their community.
The meetings should be a bridge between the community and the authorities – a way to raise problems and deal with them before they snowball.
But in many instances – if the meetings covered by this newspaper are anything to go by – residents leave disappointed, feeling like they’re hitting their heads against brick walls.
That was certainly the sentiment of Paul Carpenter when he called for a vote of no confidence in the Brooklyn Ysterplaat and Rugby Residents’ Assocation (BYRRA).
On the flip side, it is easy to gripe about the poor job others are doing if you’re not willing to jump in and help out yourself.
In the case of Mr Carpenter, he was asked if he would like to be chairman of BYRRA or serve on the committee. His response was an instant no.
It doesn’t do anyone much good to have wrongs pointed out without an alternative offered.
