– Independence Arch also being set up

By Alva Solomon
AS Guyana prepares to usher in its Golden Jubilee festivities this year, an Independence Arch is being set up at Independence Road, a narrow but significant roadway in the Mabaruma sub-Region in the North West District.

That arch will be the first such structure to be erected in Region One, and it will be laid prominently on the roadway, which stands at the bottom of the community of Hosororo Hill, located some three miles from Mabaruma, the administrative capital of the region.

The roadway built in May 1966, the year Guyana attained independence from the British, and is set to undergo major transformation in the weeks ahead. It will be upgraded with sand and bitumen, while adequate drainage facilities are to be erected at the sides of the roadway. In addition, street lamps will be installed on the electrical poles which line the roadway.

Stretching for some two miles in length, Independence Road connects the Aruka River with Hosororo Hill, and provides access in the form of a shortcut. Over the years, due to migration of persons from the waterfront area where the road reaches the Aruka River, the roadway became less utilised. However, some 6 families still reside along the road.

“I think it is significant because of the history it has, and to remind villagers of togetherness it had back in the days”, Renatto Srikumar, a resident of the area and coordinator of the Golden Jubliee activities in the region, told this newspaper recently from Mabaruma.

He said that when erected, the arch will truly signify what it means to be an independent nation.

“This tells a history which is important to the younger children in this generation,” he added.
He said residents are looking forward to the road being upgraded. “And with help from the Government, hopefully more land owners who have land there can actually come back and build and do more farming, provided that the road is maintained,” he disclosed.

Independence Road is characterized by the tall trees which hang over the road’s shoulders. It is also famous for the noisy creaking of branches of the bamboo trees, which are a feature of that section of the community. Its meandering turns are synonymous with the swampy terrain of the area.

Today the laterite road is used mainly by farmers who sell their produce in the more hilly communities there. The farmers would travel downriver, along the Aruka River, and disembark at the end of the roadway, where it connects to the river. The farmers travel to the populated areas to sell their produce.

“It’s a roadway that is there, and you would think it is not utilized, but in reality people still use the road to go about their business”, one resident of Independence Road related recently. Another noted that it was a “normal” road which the administration of the day considered being significant.

School children who live in the riverine communities outside of Hosororo Hill also utilize the roadway to travel to and from the schools there. The road provides access to other roads which the children use as “shortcuts” to get to school.

In addition to the roadway, a large concrete reservoir which was built in the 1960s to supply water to the hill-top communities is also a major landmark on Independence Road. The project was undertaken with the intention of supplying water to several households located miles away. However, given the hilly nature of the landscape, this never materialized since the water pumps developed mechanical problems after installation. The water which is retained in the reservoir is sourced from a natural spring which was discovered near the roadway. Minibus drivers and residents utilise the water from the reservoir for the purpose of washing, while a few persons use the water for drinking purposes.

Last Monday, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) at Mabaruma officially launched its Golden Jubilee celebrations, with Mashramani activities set to officially usher in the festivities. Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley stressed the importance of the signature milestone in Guyana’s history, and called for peace and unity among the peoples of Region One.

This year, the Government has budgeted $300M for the Golden Jubilee celebrations. Finance Minister Winston Jordan, while presenting the budget, stressed the importance of the celebrations this year.

“This year is the beginning of the creation of that legacy. Mr. Speaker, notwithstanding the allocation for the specific events surrounding our 50th Anniversary, Budget 2016 — indeed, all future budgets — is dedicated to ensuring the path to the good life is secured for generations to come. A sum of $300 million has been budgeted to support activities in celebration of our Golden Jubilee year”, he told Parliament.