THE David Granger School bus that was gifted to the Community of Coomacka Mines of Region 10, in June this year is currently parked in the compound of the Mackenzie Police Station awaiting the completion of repairs to the community’s access road.

According to Regional Education Officer, Marcia Paddy, the bus attempted to make a first trip to the community but subsequently broke down given the deplorable state of the road. This was revealed by another parent who bemoaned the non- operation of the bus. “The first day de bus start to work, it broke down because it low and de road aint good, it stick up. That bus will not last two weeks on the road,” the parent said.

Since then Bosai Minerals Incorporated and the Regional Democratic Council have commenced repairs, but according to Regional Chairman, Renis Morian the RDC does not possess the needed trucks or money to have the road repaired to the standard needed for the 30 seater bus to traverse it. The RDC has since reached out to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure for assistance in having the road repaired. Morian revealed that the MoPI has requested names of three contractors to man the project and those were provided. “Work has already started but we have recognised that the work that is going on will not do everything that we want to do so we had to get Ministry of Public Infrastructure come in…I heard it will take in excess of 50 truckloads of stuff to do the road,” Morian said.

Morian is of the opinion that even if the road is repaired, the continuous traversing of the lumber and heavy-duty trucks will continue to damage the surface and the situation will return to the way it had been. Currently, scores of heavy-duty vehicles traverse the road daily.

Meanwhile students and parents living in communities such as Coomacka, Old England, Nottinghamshire and Three Friends are eagerly awaiting the completion of the road repairs. A community leader of Coomacka said that the bus will allow for students to reach to school early, which will give them an opportunity to benefit from extra lessons delivered in the mornings.

Parents of these communities are forced to provide $500 per day, excluding lunch and other expenses to have a child attend school in Linden. One parent said that he had to pay $400 daily just to get one child to and from Coomacka but that excludes added transportation to actually reach to the school. “It is really hard, you have to find money for snack and project and all these things,” he explained.