Commuters and farmers traversing the Mahaicony Branch Road in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) have called for urgent intervention on Government to fix the deplorable road, which has been in its current poor condition for some time now.
Concerned residents reached out to this publication on Wednesday insisting that farming activities will commence in a short while, but it is impossible for heavy equipment to navigate successfully along the many deep crates.
Deplorable condition of Mahaicony Branch Road
Mansood Saleem, a resident expressed, “We have farmlands at the back there and the road is a good way in. Since last year we having this problem and report it but nothing [is] happening. You have tractor and trucks that supposed to be there by now but we can’t help it. People here don’t know what to do anymore”.
The carriageway, which was fashioned with asphalt and silt, is completely degraded and serves as the main entrance towards hundreds of acres of farmland. According to Saleem, other farmers will suffer losses and be denied the rainy weather to tend their crops.
“If we don’t get in there now, then we miss the crop season and that is money losing there. Now is the time that we actually get money and [it] is a shame that the road is causing trouble,” the aggrieved man explained.
The current situation also affects normal motorists since it damages their vehicles. Strategic points are also inaccessible.
“A car would find it very hard to pass through here. That’s why people thinking twice before coming through. I am calling on the Ministry and the Government to find a solution”.
While Guyana’s main road networks have been widened or rehabilitated, many roads along the interior and streets in rural communities remain in a poor state.
For some time, the Linden-Lethem trail has been flooded as a result of heavy rainfall and some vehicles were overturned while attempting to pass through. Minibuses transporting passengers to Mahdia were forced to stop and occupants were forced to brave the flood and assist the driver in getting through the waters.
Guyana Times has reported the ordeals of minibus operators on several occasions but the Public Infrastructure Ministry is yet to provide a permanent solution.
Even as business owners, residents and other users of the road continue to fume over its deplorable state, the Public Infrastructure Ministry that has responsibility for the maintenance of the road is yet to make a pronouncement on it or its engineer yet to pay a visit to the area.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, residents of Fourth Bridge, Herstelling New Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD) called on the regional officials to pay heed to their current plight of having to daily traverse deplorable roads in the area.
The roads, for the past months since the rainy season commenced, could not be used, thus, forcing residents to use alternative and very lengthy routes to get to and from their homes.
