Major overhaul for Linden Highway
65-year old Evadney Rodney speaks on pension-related matters (Samuel Maughn photo)
65-year old Evadney Rodney speaks on pension-related matters (Samuel Maughn photo)

…residents complain about road depressions, dangerous driving

RESIDENTS of Region 10 (Upper Demerara – Berbice) were apprised of the Government’s intention to restore the Soesdyke-Linden Highway to top condition and implement strict regulations for logging trucks, all with the aim of preventing fatalities on the stretch of road.

Director General in the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, made the commitment to the region’s residents who turned out to the New Silvercity Secondary School, on Tuesday, to air their concerns.

His visit was part of a multi-ministerial outreach to the Region and at the location. He was accompanied by Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, and Mayor of Linden, Waneka Arrindell.

Director-General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, speaks to Region 10 residents at the New Silvercity Secondary School on Tuesday (Samuel Maughn photo)

Prior to listening to the concerns of residents, Harmon explained that the purpose of the outreach was to ensure that the government was aligned with the interests of the people. “The system of governance which we practise must be inclusionary so that the people themselves can have a say in the way in which their affairs are governed,” Harmon said.
“The people themselves can actually shape the way their government functions. So, these outreaches are part of shaping the way your government functions. They are a way of making sure that we are reflective of what we say we are and that is a government by the people, of the people and for the people.”

Damage to highway
Standing first to speak on behalf of concerns relayed to him was Regional Councillor, Gordon Callender. He expressed concern about heavy lumber trucks which traverse and damage the highway; conduct their trade without Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and endanger the lives of persons traversing the Soesdyke-Linden Highway through dangerous driving.

The Councillor also spoke to the condition of the highway which makes it difficult and dangerous to traverse, especially to those not au fait with the many road depressions. In response, Harmon first explained to the residents that the road’s expiry date had long passed which is why the present administration had commenced infrastructural plans which will soon alleviate the condition.

In addition, he stated that the government made a strategic decision to have the design of the highway expected from Lethem to Linden to pass through the town, therefore generating a steady flow of business.

The roadworks will also see the Soesdyke-Linden Highway receiving a major overhaul from its current undulating state. “We’ve already done the survey and the feasibility study for the highway. We’ve also done the survey and the feasibility study for the Linden to Lethem Highway and I believe that some of the phases in it has already benefitted from financing. So, this is a work in progress,” Harmon explained.

Meanwhile, he noted the issues faced with logging trucks in the region as a key challenge the government was moving to address.

Regional Councillor Gordon Callender (Samuel Maughn photo)

“You will find some new regulations that will be coming out very shortly that will help in that regard. Too many people lose their lives on that Linden Highway,” he stressed.
He added that highway policing must also be ramped up until such regulations are passed.
“Another thing is the hazard of unlit trucks that are parked on that highway. We have requested of the Guyana Police Force that they do regular patrols along that road and insist that when a vehicle is parked it must have the markers and the necessary things. But, certainly, it requires constant supervision and ensuring that the police do their work…and that is an issue we’ll have to take up with the Ministry of Public Security,” he said.
Other concerns which came in included a request for additional monies to pay persons part of the government’s Community Infrastructure Improvement Programme (CIIP).
“As a councillor, I’m asking you to see if you can engage the Ministry of Communities where this programme is coming from to see if they could raise those ladies’ monies and the majority of those ladies are single parents so they need help,” Callender said.
In turn, Minister Ally promised that she will have a discussion with the Minister of Communities and gather information on what can be done to better the financial situation.
Another resident, 65-year old Evadney Rodney, brought up the concern that she has worked for 17 years with the Linden bauxite company but, to date, has not received pension due.

When she took her seat, Minster Ally stated that a representative of Ministry will collect her information even as she assured that the matter will be dealt with from the labour perspective and along with information from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).
“We are going to look at your matter. When we get the facts then we will be able to tell you how you can proceed,” Amna assured.

Another matter the Minister stated that she will look into was the payment of less than $50,000 to some school cleaners in the Region.

In 2018, the Government had raised the minimum basic salary for public servants to $64,200. Ally told resident Ulette Crawford that the Government is aware that issues exist and has engaged the Ministry of Education and will further engage the Regional Education Officer (REdO).

Another pensioner, Murtle Mason, requested of the government scholarship assistance for her niece to attend the University of Guyana as she couldn’t continue to cover fees with her pension.

Ally agreed on the spot to discuss help for Mason’s niece to which the woman loudly applauded. Several other concerns made by residents were noted by the officials. Those which could be remedied on the spot were remedied while the officials took note of other issues which they will seek to have resolved over time.

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