THE Ministry of Housing and Water, under the Community Road Improvement Programme (CRIP), upgraded the main access road at Groenveldt in Region 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) to asphaltic concrete surface from a deteriorated loam surface. This upgrade has brought immense satisfaction to residents, especially those residing at the last street along the access road. According to the Ministry of Housing and Water, many residents have recommenced using the main access road, which is situated opposite the Leonora Primary School.

The works were undertaken by Compustruct Engineering Inc. to the tune of $12M. The Ministry has indicated that they are very pleased with the timely conclusion of the works by the contractor.
Robina Persaud and other residents of Groenveldt said just imagine having a medical emergency and the access road to your home is impassible due to huge craters and slush, “that horrifying situation is no longer a challenge for us,” she said.
She noted that previously the road was a deplorable loam surface and during the wet weather the slushiness of the road made it impossible for vehicles to traverse and persons to walk, essentially making life difficult for residents.

NO HASSLE ANYMORE
Persaud recalled that for several years she had suffered from an ailment which resulted in her need for immediate medical attention. She recounted that getting to the hospital was a hassle, especially the unbearable walk from her bridge to the head of the road.
“The road was so bad that cars never wanted to drive here…when I was sick and I had to go to the hospital the car would come to the road head and I had to walk to the car…my children would have to put a chair for me…I would walk a piece and sit and then walk again…that is what I used to do but now we get this road and it would make things easier for everybody,” she explained.
Sharing another experience of how the deplorable road posed an inconvenience to residents, she recalled that when one of her neighbours had passed away persons were forced to fetch the corpse to the head of the road to a vehicle.
Vishal Rampersaud, a regular visitor to the area, said “this road looks good – for the past 15 years I coming by my mother-in-law this is the first time the road in so good condition, the road was terrible with huge potholes and mud whenever it rain.”
The CRIP is a multi-million dollar road project being implemented by the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and the Ministry of Housing and Water, and it is aimed at improving access to housing, education, health and other social infrastructure through the improvement and upgrading of roads in existing housing schemes. (Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)