Still no repairs to Coomacka bridges – Councillor

While rehabilitation works are presently being executed on the Coomacka access road at Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), residents and officials are concerned that there has been no movement so far to repair the dilapidated bridges within the remote community as well as those of its immediate neighbours.

Regional Councillor and Chairman of the Coomacka Community Development Council (CDC), Dexter Harding recently alluded that no rehabilitative work has been carried out so far on the bridges, as he urged fellow Councillors to make the necessary representation to facilitate this development.

“As for the bridges, (there has been) no movement on the bridges…As a Council,

A section of the collapsed revetment
A section of the collapsed revetment

we need to keep probing the necessary authorities so that we can get movement, because if something happens, I know I would be the first person to be blamed,” Harding said. While he praised the work presently being executed along the stretch of road, Harding called for work to commence on the bridges, which were in urgent need of repairs.

Last August, heavy downpours of rain resulted in the collapse of the revetment work on the main access bridge at Coomacka, which caused intense flooding in the small farming community.

Following several complaints, protests and strike action by residents in mining communities across the Region over the deplorable state of access roads and internal bridges, Ministers of Government and regional officials visited the communities back in January to get a first-hand look at the situation.

Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson and Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Sydney Alicock, along with regional officials, visited the affected areas, including Coomacka, Three Friends, Yaribo and Old England/Syberian where they met with residents.

National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Flatts also visited the communities where he assessed several issues. Local engineers and contractors also formed part of the visiting team. During the visit, several faulty bridges within the communities were examined and assessed, with the aim of carrying out major rehabilitation, as residents got an opportunity to present their concerns.

Harding also recently expressed concern over the condition of the community’s river which has been affected by massive erosion. Regional Chairman Renis Morian has asserted that as a result of the erosion, which was undoubtedly caused by heavy rains, the situation has become worse, with approximately half of the river becoming impassable. The NDIA CEO had also assessed the situation during his visit to the Coomacka community.