By Alva Solomon

UPSET over contamination of a creek that runs nearby, residents of Karrau, in the Mazaruni area near the township of Bartica, yesterday blocked a roadway which passes through the community.

A standoff between the residents and police ensued, as no one claimed ownership of a truck which was placed across the roadway. The roadway leads from a landing at Karrau into the Mazaruni, where several mining operations are located, including one at Blue Mountain.

Toshao of Karrau, Bertille Thomas, told the Guyana Chronicle that the residents were not co-operating with the village council when the road was blocked. He said the police at Bartica were called in, and the officer in charge and several ranks hurried to the scene. He said the road provides a linkage for several persons, many of whom are not associated with the state of the creek.

CREEK DISCOLOURED
Residents noted that the creek has been polluted for several months by a miner who sat on the village council, and the situation grew worse last week when the water became completely discoloured.

However, Thomas said, no one is currently mining near the creek, and the breach of an unused tailings pond caused the discolouration of the water.

The residents were also upset that no one from the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs had paid any interest in the issue, even though a team from that Ministry was in the area recently.

Thomas noted, however, that a team of officials was indeed in the area — at nearby Fairview village – but they were pressed for time. However, the officials plan to visit Karrau after the Easter holidays.

Thomas expressed hope that the standoff would have been resolved by last night.