ON Wednesday morning a group of unknown individuals started to vandalise a culvert at the 2 ½- Mile Bartica/Potaro Road in proximity to the newly constructed Two-Mile Primary School. The Fire Service and Police responded promptly to the report of the digging up of the culvert and burning of tyres on the road. Police maintained its presence as the temporary relief works were being done on the road to maintain the peace. One arrest was made and police are conducting further investigation on this incident. This is the result of residents complaining of the conditions of the One to Five-mile road leading to the interior for the past few months.
Regional Chairman, Mr. Gordon Bradford, NDC Chairman, Mr. Ovid Benjamin and Regional Engineer, Mr. Adrian Ragoobeer were on sight at around 09:30hrs and the affected section of the road was temporarily patched, which allowed for the continued flow of traffic.
The road was patched before 10:30hrs and traffic resumed which was welcomed by persons traversing to and from the interior. The Regional Engineer has recommended crusher run surface for the road and for the creation of an earthen drain on the right hand side of the road to avoid erosion that is common to this terrain.
The NDC Chairman, Mr. Benjamin was able to assist with the temporary work to put in place an excavator that is on loan from the Ministry of Works for two weeks to assist in the management of the community dumpsite to spearhead the road repair. The temporary solution was completed at 12:10hrs and traffic returned to normalcy.
The Regional Chairman, Mr. Bradford had this to say: “What happened this morning no matter how justified residents may feel for the condition of the One to Five-Mile Road over these past months …… there is need for a long term solution. I understand the concerns of residents but I do not condone such behaviour. I appeal to residents to be patient and calm in this situation. I am also cautioning persons that it is an offence punishable by law and perpetrators that are caught will be persecuted. I am appealing to residents to desist and that a directive from Central Government indicates that as soon as the rainy season is over the contract for repairs to the road will begin. It is also for us to look at what is happening in Region 10 (Linden) and to realise the heavy dependency on mining and on Bartica as a route into the interior to these locations. It would be a disaster to think of the consequences that would come from these actions. I am appealing to persons to act responsibly and to remain calm.” (Clanna Persaud-Regional Information Officer)