CONTRIBUTING to the difficulties being experienced along the Linden-Lethem Road is the fact that truck drivers have failed to heed warnings in connection with the use of the road, creating additional problems for themselves and others. This was revealed yesterday by Minister of Public Works and Communication Robeson Benn who hosted a press conference, along with Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Kellawan Lall.
Speaking at his office, Wight’s Lane, Kingston, Georgetown, Benn said because drivers ignored the request not to enter the area, their vehicles were stuck some three feet deep.
Over the past few days, contractors had to render assistance to about six trucks when they should have been repairing those sections of the road, he said, adding, “If they had stayed off the road, we would have had it easy at this time.”
The minister said after being stuck, instead of waiting for assistance, the vehicles started wrenching on the ends of the culverts which caused then to be destroyed and lose much of their capacity.
Hence, the Army has been asked not to allow heavily laden trucks to pass from Lethem and to further assist with enforcement. The contractor there has also been asked to ensure that he works for 24 hours a day.
Until Saturday, when things are expected to normalize, Benn said trucks will not be allowed on the trail.
According to Benn, there is much more water now than the culverts can handle hence the placements of bridges and larger culverts may have to be looked at, he said.
He informed that a bridge, some 30 miles from the Kurupukari crossing, which was posing a threat to vehicular traffic, has been completed by the Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) and up to Tuesday, minibuses were still able to enter Lethem.
On Tuesday, Minister Benn said he paid a visit to the flooded road, along with a team and others concerned with oil exploration, and found that water had receded and is no more than a foot deep.
Benn cautioned against thinking that Guyanese are the only people facing these conditions as the situation exists in Brazil, Trinidad and Venezuela, as well.
Prime Minister Hinds assured that government is equally distressed over the difficulties and uncertainties facing the people of Lethem and he lamented that certain sections of the media are not presenting the matter in a way that contributes to a full understanding of it. “Making contention is the easiest thing in Guyana. Achievement is bringing people together and creating harmony. Let’s change and bring people together,” he said.
He continued, “We will overcome these difficulties…this is a temporary blow but I’m sure that we will be able to survive it. I regret very much this period of heavy rains. I know of the loss and difficulties of the people in Lethem”.
He highlighted that getting food to the affected areas does not pose a problem, but conceded that mining has been significantly impacted. Further, the government has been supporting works that are being done by residents in those locations, he said.
In terms of agriculture, Minister Lall said crops have been affected but that the staff at the Ministry of Agriculture is prepared to visit the areas and provide practical assistance as soon as the rains subside.
He noted too that the hospitals in those locations have not reported an increase in certain diseases associated with the conditions.
Floodwaters resulting from intense unseasonal rains have inundated sections of the Linden-Lethem Road and have otherwise made travel conditions difficult.
Rainfall in the Egerton, Taipon and Turke mountains have swollen the Pirara, Benoni and Mora Creeks between Pirara and Kurupukari, which has resulted in the flooding. Critical sections at Mabura/Rockstone junctions and Ituni/Lethem (Hunt Oil Area) have water depths of four to 18 inches.
Overall travel times have increased from the 10 hours average to 18 hours as a result of the weather and resultant road conditions.
The Hydromet Office has indicated that the prevailing conditions may exist for another four to six weeks.