The condition of the road operators are forced to traverse in seeking their daily bread
The Public Infrastructure Ministry stated that it is working to put measures in place to address the deplorable state of the Linden to Lethem road which has been creating major challenges for residents and road users.
In an invited comment to Guyana Times on the issue, the Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Krest Cummings, said that the Ministry’s Chief Hinterland Officer met with Guyana Geology and Mines Commission officials earlier in the week to collaborate on bringing a resolution to the issue.
She said the Ministry acknowledged the hardships associated with the deplorable condition of the roads and as a result is working assiduously in bringing relief to commuters in the shortest possible time.
Route 72 minibus operators have complained bitterly of the deteriorating condition of the trail which they are forced to use to transport passengers and goods as a means of earning their daily bread.
They described the trail as a “death trap” and bashed the Public Infrastructure Ministry for paying zero interest in conducting long-term repairs to that trail which is the only access to those areas.
The trail has been in a deteriorated state for years and worsens during the rainy seasons after which minor substandard repairs are done on certain patches and the problem continues to recur.
Several minibus operators who ply the Mahdia to Georgetown route were forced to park their buses due to the deplorable condition of the only access road. The bus operators were forced to halt their services until the weather pattern and the state of the road improves. The road, according to the operators, is almost impassible as a result of the persistent heavy rainfalls.
Meanwhile, other operators also expressed dissatisfaction with the Administration and called on the President to intervene. A bus operator on Wednesday took to social media calling on the President and Ministers responsible to intervene in order to bring a long-term solution to their plight.
The operator, whose minibus was stuck on the trail for several hours on Wednesday morning, posted a video of the dilemma and blasted the Government for their clear lack of concern or interest in the citizens of this country.
The man, (name withheld) lambasted Government for heavy taxes they are enforcing on citizens and questioned what is being done with the taxpayers’ monies. “What y’all doing with the taxpayers’ money? It is not right; this is an injustice to humanity for the Ministers to be enjoying the benefits of taxpayers’ money while the taxpayers suffering tremendously. There is no consideration for the people,” he argued.
He urged the relevant authorities to seek new ways of tackling this issue and suggested that they offer contracts to small contractors giving them responsibility for sections of the road and holding them accountable for ensuring the job is done and maintained at a proper standard.
The operator called on the Public Infrastructure and Communities Ministers to look into the situation urgently while calling on President David Granger to use his office to address the wrongdoings in those Ministries.
