Amid rising complaints from local truckers over plummeting haulage rates and increased competition from Chinese operators, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill met with dozens of truckers in Linden, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) on Tuesday, urging them to diversify their operations and adapt to market shifts as the sector becomes saturated.
Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill engaging truckers in Linden, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) on Tuesday
During the engagement, local truckers informed the minister that hauling rates for stone have dropped from $3,000 per tonne to $1,300, squeezing already slim margins.
They also alleged that truckers are being edged out of the quarry by foreign operators who have preferential access and faster loading times, even when hauling stone on behalf of paying local contractors.
In response, Edghill urged truckers to not be dismayed but adapt by expanding their operations into other areas such as transporting sand, loam, and other construction materials, particularly for government infrastructure projects.
He noted that while the sector remains competitive, opportunities still exist.
“You are telling me that you feel mistreated, in that the competition really is the owner of the quarry is now owning trucks. And when somebody buys stone from the quarry, more than likely the private sector, because government is not buying stone right now, when the owner of the quarry gets an order for stone, the owner has now engaged their own transportation network to take the stone to where the quarry gets the order from. And you are not getting the volume or the quantity of work that you were getting before”.
“Now, you are mainly fetching stone. I want you to start exploring that with the government contracts that are available, there is need for sand and there is need for loom for the roads that we are building up,” Edghill said.
In a nod to frustrations over perceived favoritism at loading sites, Edghill stressed that fairness must prevail.
On this point, he acknowledged the disparity in the market and confirmed that the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) had reached an agreement with the quarry operators to implement a two-line system to ensure fairer access for local truckers.
“As of yesterday [Tuesday] afternoon, the GGMC made an arrangement with the Chinese that there will be two lines, so that the discrimination that you’re saying you’re getting in terms of loading will come to an end.”
“Guyana is open for business, but the government will not sit idly by and allow Guyanese to be taken advantage of even in that open environment…the only duty-free equipment the Chinese got is the operational equipment if they buy trucks, they bought it just like you,” he assured.
