Disagreements among residents will not stymie community development – Edghill

A new trend of people objecting to roads being built across communities will not hinder infrastructural development, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill has posited.
The Public Works Minister recently inspected a series of ongoing infrastructural projects in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), including sea defence works and road commitments. However, he highlighted a new trend among people in communities.
“We also have a new phenomenon I’m seeing developing where people are objecting to where roads are going. Roads are awarded and people in the community are objecting to where the road is passing with claims that sometimes are difficult. One man indicated that he owns a road and if the contractor is going to build on that road, the contractor has to pay him for the materials he would have put on the road,” Edghill divulged.
In another case, a contractor has been unable to work due to the objection of a few persons. The intention is to now construct the road in an undisputed area. Other such issues have arisen, and the Ministry had to intervene.
The Public Works Minister has emphasised that such issues must not hinder infrastructural projects within communities.
“We cannot allow in Guyana, disagreement among people to hinder community development. We have to change our attitude…People who have feuds should not use those instances and those things to prevent communities and a whole region from benefitting from development. We have to improve this with resolution.”
He added, “Government is seeking to bring development to everybody everywhere. While there are people who are quarrelling and saying ‘you didn’t come to us yet’, where awards are made, people are saying ‘we don’t want that here’.”
Edghill said when it comes to development in the region, engagements were facilitated with almost all contractors and works are moving apace. The unavailability of adequate aggregates is also being addressed.
“Some projects are advancing. Some are delayed. So, that needs to be addressed…We are aware that the demands for aggregates and crusher-run is great in the country so Government has put in place, a programme for the acquisition of aggregates and crusher-run,” Edghill assured.
The Mainstay Road has been completed whereas works on the Capoey Road has significantly advanced. The bridge is being built to get into the village.
“The bridge should be completed within one month time. I established with the contractor that even though he has until June for the completion of his work, the fact that the community is not earning revenue because the community sells sand and trucks cannot go in, while he is waiting on the curing period of the bridge, the remaining part of the road must be completed to the level of asphaltic concrete.” (G12)