Neglected road networks being fixed under PPP/C Govt – Min Croal

When the current administration took office in August 2020, a system of neglected road networks and other infrastructure was inherited – an issue which authorities are now trying to fix.
Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal appeared on a recent Globespan programme, noting that these efforts were undertaken in collaboration with the Public Works and Local Government Ministries.
On this note, the Minister noted that the Housing Ministry has diverted its attention to the creation of new roads in the developing schemes.
“What has happened is that there was a total neglect…There is a lot of catching up to do, but already, you can see, there have been responses to a lot of neglected areas or streets… There is now a committee established to examine various communities for which they will have infrastructural work for road rehabilitation, maintenance, etc. Our initial programme is now focusing development of new infrastructure work,” Croal detailed.
The Minister stated that even as rehabilitation works continued, there was a challenge when heavy vehicles traversed community roads. He contended that these structures could not support such heavy weight and would ultimately become damaged.
“Some of them are too big for the community roads, so it’s an ongoing issue even for the Ministry of Public Works. The Minister of Public Works has had that issue again with the recent breakage of the bridge at Pirara…Certainly, it’s the same for the community roads, because obviously, those sand trucks are pretty heavy. It’s a lot of weight.”
He added, “That is why sometimes in the initial phase when we’re developing areas, we’re putting the surface, allow those trucks to traverse initially and then we put on the additional bitumen that is required on the final stage.”
Nevertheless, Croal pointed out that the livelihoods of persons were also taken into consideration when analysing the situation.
“Everyone has a role to play to ensure that the community is kept in a particular manner. This is not only a Government implementation. On the other side, we also have to look at the bread-and-butter issue of individuals who want to have construction within some of those communities because you’ll have additional cost,” he said.
In some villages, local organs have erected barriers to prevent large vehicles from entering the community. The Minister said this idea could be implemented by such entities in the respective communities.
Presently, the Housing Ministry is developing several new schemes in keeping with the promise to deliver 50,000 house lots within five years. It was outlined that preparation of the areas take time, given the fact that it is virgin land that is being developed.
“The areas that we are developing for housing, it is basically virgin land. These are lands that have zero infrastructure work prior to us taking over that space, unlike where we would have to do infrastructure work under public works.”