Sand truck operators to get new parking area to ply trade 

Sand truck operators who ply their trade in the vicinity of the DSL Cash and Carry operation at Industrial Site in Ruimveldt, Georgetown are to be relocated by the Public Works Ministry in order to ensure their safe operation and the free flow of traffic.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, on Saturday met with these sand truck owners and operators, during which Edghill pointed out that complaints have emanated from businesses regarding the presence of these trucks. The most important of those complaints is that these trucks are parked on the shoulder of a major highway, contributing negatively to traffic flow.
“Our engagement with you is to see how we can get an arrangement worked out. We want you to do your business. We know householders are depending on you for sand…It looks like we’re having some problems, so we are looking at the relocation. With the relocation, we are prepared to tell people where the sand trucks will be,” the drivers were assured.

From the meeting, an alternative parking site was recommended: an auxiliary parking lot of the Guyana National Stadium, entering from Red Road, and drivers have agreed to this new arrangement. Guyana Times understands that more than 25 of these drivers would be relocated there.
Edghill has said that this facility is used only for major cricketing events, and is vacant year-round. He said, “We have built a four-lane highway. They have to ply their trade, so those who are waiting to sell sand to customers have been parking in the vicinity of where we finished the new four-land Mandela Road, where it connects to the four-lane going to the East Bank. We are moving them to a location where customers will be able to get them, where they will be comfortable, and they will not be a traffic hazard or any inconvenience to businesses,” the Minister told this publication.
He pointed out that this arrangement would take immediate effect. Repair works to enhance the parking lot would commence as early as Monday, in an effort to facilitate this new arrangement.
“We will do some reparation work and they will be able to start here. We want to announce to the whole country that people who want to buy sand and they don’t have a number for the truckman to call, this is the place,” he outlined.
These truck operators would transport sand to their current location, where they would await customers who wish to purchase sand. However, some trucks act on preorder. Taking this into consideration, the Ministry would be accommodating some 20 trucks at the new location.
The Public Works Minister also spoke with taxi drivers using the ‘Red Road’ entrance to solicit passengers, informing them that they would have to make changes to their current operation. He advised against the use of major road connectors and corridors for such activities, adding that the Ministry would be looking at a location for them to occupy.
The Ministry will announce publicly when these persons will be plying their operation from the new parking space.