MINISTER of Public Works, Mr. Robeson Benn, disclosed yesterday that a number of contractors have been awarded contracts on the Linden to Lethem road network.
He was reacting to protesting mini-bus drivers who were demonstrating against the condition of the roads, from their Hadfield Street parking area aback Hadfield Street, Stabroek parking area, behind Public Buildings in Georgetown. Benn said there are some contractors who were delayed due to the Linden unrest and are still in the process of mobilising their equipment and materials to start and they have been prescribed a specified time within which to commence.
He said, in the near future, the protesters would see work commencing in the Mahdia area and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) will be responsible for monitoring it.
Hours after the mayhem that was experienced in Agricola, Greater Georgetown on Thursday, the route 72 mini-bus drivers, who transport passengers from the city to Mahdia, Potaro, mounted their protest.
They said the journey would now take double the time it took 12 months ago.
Just about two months ago, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment had made available some $40M for hinterland road network maintenance and this had sparked a number of protest activities in Mahdia but to which the regional administration of Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni) told mini-bus drivers nothing could be done.
Yesterday morning, though, mini-bus drivers, conductors and touts all called on Minister Benn to address the issue.
Some of the drivers told this newspaper that they were prompted by frustration over the high maintenance costs they face to continue their daily operations.
One driver said the roads in Mahdia are so bad that, about a month ago, he was called to take a pregnant woman to the Mahdia Regional Hospital, from Campbelltown village, but on the way, she delivered her baby in his car.
He said some  unfinished work in the area of Seven Miles to the School Junction since mid-2011 was completed only a few weeks ago.