Railway Embankment Road obstruction: Edghill commends residents on swift compliance after obstruction warning

Just one day after Public Works Minister Juan Edghill warned against the obstruction of roads and community spaces, residents along the Railway Embankment Road moved swiftly to comply, prompting the Minister to commend them for their timely adherence to his message. During visits to several areas in the capital where abandoned vehicles had been left parked, Edghill warned that the Government will no longer tolerate this level of lawlessness. One of the locations inspected was the Old Railway Embankment behind the GuyOil Gas Station, where the roadway was obstructed by derelict vehicles owned by Global Spare Parts and Auto Sales. The Minister later took to his social media platform during a live broadcast on Saturday to highlight the significant amount of work carried out by community members to clean up the area. “I revisited the alignment here on the railway embankment. A significant amount of work took place yesterday, and a lot of work has already been done this morning,” Edghill noted.
He explained that the main purpose of the live broadcast was to thank residents who responded to the Government’s concerns and began complying voluntarily.
“The main purpose of this live is to say a big thank you to the several residents who, having heard our concerns, began to comply. People, of their own accord, got equipment and vehicles to move away things that were not supposed to be here,” he said. Edghill also noted that in one instance, a resident brought a container hauler to relocate a container to an appropriate location. “In one instance, a gentleman brought a container hauler to lift the container and put it where it should have been in the first place. We are continuing the clean-up, and the team remains on the ground,” he added. The Minister further expressed gratitude to those who complied and praised the strong spirit of cooperation shown by residents. He also thanked Guyanese at home and abroad who reached out via calls and messages to support the initiative. Edghill said he was pleased, during the Saturday afternoon inspection, to observe improvements and progress in the clean-up efforts. He again thanked residents living along the alignment for their cooperation, as well as members of the public for their understanding and support.
“The commitment to President Ali’s vision for improved communities in his five-year plan will be fulfilled because we will all work together to make it happen,” he said.

Nationwide activity
However, Edghill stressed that the effort must not be limited to the Railway Embankment alone. “This must be something across the country. Communities must take back their verges, pavements and recreational facilities,” he said.
He referenced President Irfaan Ali’s December address to the nation, during which the Head of State outlined a five-year strategic plan aimed at improving communities nationwide. Edghill emphasised that while the Ministry of Public Works is responsible for roads, drainage, street lights and bridges, other agencies also have critical roles to play. “The Ministry of Local Government, through the NDCs (Neighbourhood Democratic Councils), has its role. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has its role in fixing recreational grounds. Across the entire Government, we all have responsibilities,” he said.
He added that plans are underway to establish more green spaces and expand facilities to improve livelihoods but stressed that Government action alone is not enough. “Communities must take action together. Communities must work together. I commend President Ali for his initiative, and I fully support it. The Cabinet and the entire Government apparatus will work toward fulfilling that vision, but we cannot do it alone,” Edghill stated. The Minister also reaffirmed that restoring law and order remains a top priority, noting that individuals who intentionally break the law will be held accountable. He emphasised that the ongoing exercise is not targeted at any individual but is aimed at restoring order and ensuring full compliance nationwide. Last year, Minister Edghill had issued a stern warning that derelict vehicles, encumbrances and encroachments on road shoulders and Government reserves across Guyana will be removed. “Guyanese are becoming fatigued and fed up, and it appears that once you finish cleaning, the very same thing reoccurs,” Edghill had lamented, as he assured that the Government will intensify its campaigns countrywide. “We are giving notice to everyone: derelict vehicles, vehicles without wheels or doors, or vehicles with bush in them that have been abandoned on road shoulders will be removed, and they will be crushed into scrap at the Government’s derelict site on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway,” the Minister had emphasised, noting that several contractors have already been engaged to assist in this nationwide exercise. Similar to the removal of derelict vehicles, the Minister had also addressed the growing issue of businesses encroaching onto road shoulders and pedestrian walkways. As such, he said the Ministry will continue to remove all encumbrances and encroachments wherever violations occur, as part of its commitment to road safety and orderliness.