–MPI makes good on promise to repair access road, bridges in mined-out communities

RESIDENTS in the Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) communities of Nottinghamshire, Old England, Coomacka, Three Friends and Siberian are in high spirits.
The reason? The Ministry of Public Infrastructure has made good on its promise to commence extensive repairs to the access road and two bridges there.
Work on the road and bridges follow an eight-day picketing action and strike over the deplorable state they were in.

The strike and picket were called off last Wednesday when a delegation headed by Minister in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Ms Annette Ferguson and Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Mr Sidney Allicock paid the communities a visit.
Minister Ferguson promised residents that extensive work, to the tune of G$21M, would have commenced by the end of the week, as the contract had already been completed and awarded to RIM Construction Company.

BACK TO NORMAL
Community leader, Mr Robert Gentle, who led the picketing action, told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday that repair works have commenced and that the situation has returned to normalcy. It was also confirmed that the minibus drivers have also called off their strike.
Regional Education Officer, Ms Marcia Paddy also confirmed with the Guyana Chronicle that the 30-seater David Granger school bus that was gifted to the communities last July has also commenced transporting children.

The bus was hitherto parked in the compound of the Mackenzie Police Station for the past eight months as a result of the deplorable state of the road.
Parents are also in high spirits now that the bus is back in operation, as it will ease their pockets from the hefty transportation cost to Linden.
For eight days, schoolchildren and commuters were left in limbo due to the minibus strike, and many secondary school children expressed fear that they will not be able to submit their SBA’s on time.

Minister Ferguson pleaded with the residents to cooperate with the contractor, as the repairs will take some time, since it is not only the roads that will be fixed but the bridges, drains and culverts as well.
“We are just asking for your patience; we are just asking for your cooperation, and things will get done,” she pleaded.

Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira, also encouraged the residents to monitor the contractor’s work if they are to expect standard. “It is important that you, as the residents, see the scope of works; and you have to monitor the works to ensure that it is done to the best of what you are expecting, because, at the end of the day, your taxes are being paid for these works, so you have to ensure that the work is done properly by whoever contractor is being awarded this contract,” he said.

Minister Allicock also posited similar sentiments of cooperation and working together, as being united is the only step of moving forward.
“We have to work together; we are all part of this process. We can only do things well if we are properly advised,” he said. He promised to continue visiting the people and give them the needed help in other areas.