Mora Camp, Kalcoon students slush through trails to school
By Devina Samaroo
Imagine almost every morning on your way to school having to take off your shoes, socks, lifting your clothing slightly over your knees and slushing through inundated trails.
Children of the neighbouring communities of Mora Camp and Kalcoon in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) do this on a regular basis whenever it rains or whenever there is high tide.
Students slushing through Benjie Road
In some cases, parents transform into human vehicles, strapping their children on their shoulders as they hike through knee-high waters en route to school.
The situation is just as deplorable during the drier climate, as they have to trek through the blazing sun, climb steep hills and cross creeks on feeble makeshift bridges.
Just at the end of the trail, there is an eroding hill which the children have to scramble down to complete their journey.
Mora Camp and Kalcoon are located approximately two miles off the Potaro Road, along the bank of the Mazaruni River on the opposite side of the Mazaruni Prison.
They form part of the municipality of Bartica.
The two villages combined have a population of 300, with some 100 who use the swampy trail to get in and out of the communities.
There is an alternative route called “Monestry”, a longer stretch of road which is also in a deplorable condition.
Residents opt to use the sludgy track because it is a much shorter distance. This route is called “Benjie Road”.
Mayor of Bartica Gifford Marshall during an interview with Guyana Times on Saturday was saddened by the awful state those residents have to endure.
He explained that while the situation is considered more heart wrenching for the children, adults too have to live through the hardship.
Marshall said he is currently engaging central government with the aim of addressing the situation.
He said representation will be made for a high-rise bridge to be built at a strategic point along Benjie Road and for a concrete step to be constructed along the eroding hill.
The project is estimated to cost some $40 million.
