RESIDENTS of Catherina’s Lust are calling on the Government to execute extensive repairs to the “old train line road” that runs through the community. Currently, the road is virtually impassable. According to residents, the heavy downpours in recent times have transformed the dusty road into a muddy swamp. The situation is further

compounded, they said, by the constant use of tractors on the already deplorable thoroughfare.
During a recent visit to Catherina’s Lust, West Coast Berbice, residents complained bitterly about the situation.
One of the residents, Donette D’Andrade, told the Guyana Chronicle that after a hard day’s work she got stuck in the thick mud on her way home for more than 10 minutes, and had to solicit help from one of her neighbours.
“It is very difficult to get in or out,” she cried, adding: “It’s not bad, it’s terrible.”
Like many residents, D’Andrade believes that the use of tractors by farmers is a major contributing factor to the current state of the road.
“We deserve better, is not now we complaining about this road, is long. If is not the thick, thick dust, is thick, thick mud. Is not pigs living behind there, is human beings, is normal people and we deserve better,” another resident Ismay Aaron added. Aaron has been living in the area for the past two years.
Hope Town Land Coop Society Chairperson Renee McCalman said the road, which is also identified as the sideline dam, is the main access to more than 350 house- lots, and has been a cause for concern for several years.
“For the past seven years, the Hope Town Coop Society has been dialoguing with the Regional Democratic Council to get the road fixed, but to no avail. Every time it rains, it is really difficult to get in or out,” she explained.

McCalman is of the strong opinion that another road should be identified by the relevant authorities for farmers to utilise.
“We are asking that the farmers use another entrance which is more to the east and the roads be fixed, so that residents can have access to their homes through there,” she posited.
She said although the matter has been raised at the level of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), the RDC and central Government, all residents have received to date were promises.
“All we have been receiving are promises and promises and nothing else.”
Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson recently met with the residents.
However, during that meeting, it was explained that the sideline dam or old train line road is a farm-to-market road, and as such, falls under the Agriculture Ministry.
In an interview on Sunday, Minister Patterson told the Guyana Chronicle that the residents have been advised to submit a formal request to the Agriculture Ministry to have the road converted into a residential road.
He said only then the Public Infrastructure Ministry would be able to intervene.