Written by Gabreila Patram
THE Guyana Government and the Ministry of Public Works have expressed concern at the prevalence of potholes on the main carriageways and roads in Guyana.

Public Works Minister Robeson Benn said, “It’s a constant concern. We have had a great number of potholes appearing because of the extended rainy season.”
Apart from the extended rainy season, which has been spread across the last three months, Benn also attributed the state of the roads to the manner in which commuters, especially those with heavy duty vehicles, use the roadways.
The Minister said most of the potholes on the East Bank of Demerara have been addressed.
“In Georgetown, where there is poor drainage, there has been a lot of destruction of the roads, like Light Street (and) Hadfield Street. We did some parts of Hadfield Street some time last week,” Benn explained.
He said work was also done on the East and West Coasts of Demerara, and pointed out that while the Ministry is currently concentrating its efforts in the city, some of the roads do not fall under the remit of the Public Works Ministry.
The ministry’s efforts coincide with its normal road building projects done throughout the country. In recent times, citizens have decried the state of several main carriageways and roads, highlighting the threat it posed to their safety.
In relation to the road projects that are presently taking place around the country, including  building bridges and extension of roads such as the four-lane highway on the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara, the minister said some are to be completed by this year’s end, while others would be completed early in 2014.
Benn added that the workers have been engaged around the clock to make sure these projects are completed and are kept at a good pace. He commended some of the work the workers are doing and noted that some of the projects are behind schedule, but some of the setbacks are due to the inclement weather.