–Lima Sands residents urge officials, in light of poor road work

By Indrawattie Natram
SCORES of residents from Lima Sands located some five miles aback Anna Regina, Region Two, have raised concerns over the poor construction of the road leading to their community.

According to the residents, they have waited too long for the community to be given ‘sloppy’ work.
Speaking with reporters, residents say the road under construction is narrow and the building materials used to reinforce the shoulders are inferior.
The residents, who act as monitors of the project, said they are dissatisfied with the work done and called for a halt to the project and an investigation to be launched into the work done.

Representatives of the Amerindian People’s Association and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) councillors at the recent Regional Democratic Council (RDC) meeting raised the issue of poor materials being used on the road shoulders.
These are a mixture of sand and loam on a road frequented by heavy-duty trucks.
Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt said the beneficiaries should have been consulted before implementation of the project.

“There was no consultation with the project beneficiaries and this may be the main reason why the project is poorly designed; consultation on the other hand would achieve proper project designs,” Ramdatt said.
He also said several complaints were brought before him by residents about the project, pointing out that there is need for consultation and transparency in the region as it relates to projects.

The region’s RDC has instructed the Works Committee to inspect the project and provide a report, which will be shared with Regional Executive Officer (REO) Rupert Hopkinson for his intervention.

When contacted, REO Hopkinson said the engineer confirmed that the contractor is following the specification of the projects.
He said the project has engaged his attention and he will see what adjustment can be made by the contractor, but as it is, the contractor is honouring the specifications of the works.

Hopkinson also inspected the project and had a first-hand view of what residents were requesting. Lima Sands is a small, mixed community that has a population of close to 300 persons.