THE International Development Bank (IDB), through the EXP Engineering Consulting firm of Canada, has formed a Road Users Group (RUG) to monitor the construction of the ‘new’ East Bank of Berbice road.

Following a meeting at the Edingburgh Primary School with East Bank residents on June 25, a proposal was made to establish a special committee to represent their community and offer recommendations and report any form of discrepancies during the rebuilding of the thoroughfare.

On July 2, Social Engagement Specialist of EXP, Bernice Duncan, met with 14 members of RUG at a specially convened meeting in New Amsterdam, where Ramesh Maraj and Samuel Mona were elected as spokespersons of the group for all formal engagements.

During the session, the group had many agreements and disagreements, with president of the East Bank Hire Car Drivers’ Association, Maxwell Semple, raising a number of contentious and at times frivolous points which forced Ms. Duncan to relocate him from his seat.
“I want to know if we will indeed get a new road or, come this October, it will be more patch work as is the case with the politicians, until we decide to take matters in our own hands”? he asked.
His question was not well received by the majority of the group, as one man was heard muttering: “This guy needs to listen more and cease talking …”
Ms. Duncan reminded the gathering that their focus should be on acting as a liaison between the construction team and the East Bank community, and not to ‘bicker’ on less important issues.
“The construction of the road has nothing to do with politics …. the only thing is – each Government has a vision for its country and that vision may not be able to afford all of your desires,” she said, adding: “I want you to know that your Government is committed to providing a new road (on the East Bank of Berbice).”

The IDB has specific requirements and one such is the active involvement of an environmental and social services officer to engage the prospective road construction firm regularly; to ensure that there are no glitches in the ‘mega project’ which is expected to commence in October.
Other leading entities will be invited to become stakeholders in the proposed project, among those mentioned are: Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Guyana Telephone and Telegraph company (GT&T); New Amsterdam Mayor and Town Council (N/A – M&TC), the East Berbice/Corentyne Regional Democratic Council (R.D.C); the Enfield/New Doe Park – Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Berbice Chambers of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA) and, the media.
Duncan reminded that there are lots of works to be done, with members of the RUG building trust among themselves. “You need to respect the judgement of each other as you seek to engage the construction stakeholders and the wider community,” she said.
In the interim, the Government of Guyana will be expending $60M on repair works along the 26 mile thoroughfare to bring relief to road users on the East Bank of Berbice.

(By Michael Khan)