Corentyne roadways taken over by farmers “drying” paddy
…lack of response from Police upsets commuters
Residents of Berbice, especially those living along the Corentyne Highway, are complaining bitterly about the drying of paddy of the roadways, stating it must be a hindrance to commuters.
According to residents, what is more worrying is the lack of response for Police to enforce traffic laws in the region. Guyana Times was told that the Police response to the continued drying of paddy on the Corentyne Highway poses the question as to whether the Police are making attempts to put an end to the practice which endangers all road users.
The issue was recently raised at a recent community meeting and has since sparked heated debate among hire car drivers and other road users. Responding to the issue, Divisional Traffic Officer Assistant Superintendent, Timothy Williams said the Traffic Department is very concerned over the issue as he urged farmers
These drivers are forced to share their lane with the paddy being dried on the roadway by farmers
not to dry their paddy on the roadway.
However, Williams asked the farmers not to place huge objects such as tyres, concrete blocks and drums near the paddy on the road. Further, Williams said his main concern is for drivers who traverse the road daily and the Traffic Department has embarked on a series of awareness programmes.
Meanwhile, vehicle operators continue to use the Corentyne Highway in fear as they are being forced to share sections of their lane with beds of paddy taking up almost half of the carriageway.
The Guyana Rice Development Board has set up a seed paddy drying facility at Number 56 Village which cleans and dries the paddy. The cost has been reduced from $500 per bag to $320 per bag. Farmers who dry their paddy on the road pay labourers $280 for each bag.
It is only at the paddy drying facility that they can get it cleaned of all the unwanted
The empty paddy drying facility at Number 56 Village
particles.
Regional Councillor Gobin Harbhajan says farmers need to respect the law and in these modern times farmers should stop being lazy by drying paddy on the road in front of their homes. He is advocating the use of the seed paddy drying facility at Number 56 Village. The facility also dries paddy the traditional way. The drying floor can accommodate 3000 bags of paddy and that service is free. There is also a smaller drying floor at Bengal.
There are also seven rice mills situated along the Corentyne Highway in Region Six which have drying floors. In addition to those, there are two more situated in the Black Bush Polder.
