“We cannot allow this lawlessness to continue” – Edghill about trucks parked on roadways
Warning that the practice of parking vehicles on roadways must come to an end, Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill recently revealed that the government is in the process of developing a plot of land for owners to rent a space to park their trucks and articulated vehicles.
File photo: trucks parked on the East Bank Demerara roadway
Edghill made this statement last Friday during an engagement with truck drivers last Friday, he said.
“We cannot allow this lawlessness to continue last night. I was on the Heroes Highway, trucks are actually now parking on the highway as overnight areas for sleeping because they don’t have anywhere to park,” he stated.
In this regard, the minister highlighted that the government will soon establish specified parking areas for trucks.
“We have a lot of trucks. When somebody invest in their truck they must know ahead of time where they are going to park it, we can’t just buy trucks and leave it at any road corner. The government has initiated a plan where we are going to develop a plot of land to put all of the articulated vehicles,” the minister stated.
Meanwhile, the government has implemented a ban on trucks parking in Ruimveldt reserves, following the removal of 11 sand trucks parked illegally at the Industrial Estate, in the vicinity of DSL Cash and Carry, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
Explaining the issue to the media following his engagement, Minister Edghill said, “The sand is finding its way into the factory, and it is contaminating the paint. This matter has reached the courts. We have come and have removed these truck drivers before. Just under two weeks, the police have come and have removed them. They have returned.”
The minister noted that the truckers have attempted to negotiate with the government for alternative locations to conduct their business. The situation has been further exacerbated by the truckers’ practice of dumping leftover sand on the reserves. A sign and barricades will be erected at the site, and any trucks found violating this instruction will be impounded. Additionally, traffic ranks of the Guyana Police Force will continue to monitor the area.
