By Alva Solomon

SEVERAL trucks have overturned within the past three days on the slushy, jagged roads at Port Kaituma, and residents of the Region One community are calling on the authorities to urgently remedy the situation.

The road networks within the area and connecting communities have been in a deplorable state for years and yesterday persons in the mining community noted that the rains, coupled with lack of maintenance, have caused the roads to deteriorate over the years .
Responsibility for maintenance and improvement of the roadway lies with the regional administration and central government.
A resident told this newspaper yesterday that two trucks which are operated by the Welcome family, and driven by a father and a son, were badly damaged after they overturned earlier this week. He said that in one instance, one of the men was driving along the ‘Teacher’s Quarters’ area when the vehicle careened onto its side along a slushy slope.
Later, another relative was driving another of the family’s trucks at 18-Miles, Port Kaituma, when he lost control of the vehicle along a crater-filled, sloping section of the road. And another truck overturned on Wednesday near the Port Kaituma Waterfront area and several persons who were in its tray were lucky to escape injury after they jumped from the vehicle as it turned turtle.
FARE HIKE
Reports are that the fare to travel around the community is high, while taxi drivers have been crying out at the costly maintenance of their vehicles. The fare to travel within the community ranges from $1,000 to as much as $5,000. One resident said yesterday the fare of $1,000 applies to anyone regardless of whether the person is an adult or a child. ”It really unfair meh bai, really unfair,” another said when questioned on the state of the road.

He said that the slushy roadway is difficult to traverse, especially for schoolchildren and public servants. For years the roads in the area have been a major cause of concern for residents. Several accidents have been attributed to the poor condition of these roads.
PROTEST
In August 2012, residents blocked the main roads in the community as they protested their poor condition. Two years later residents repeated their action out of frustration as they demanded that the then PPP administration attend to their plight.

Residents noted yesterday that if their calls are not heeded soon, they will resort to taking similar action by blocking the roadways.