RESIDENTS of Borada and Myrie in the village of Wakapoa are calling on the authorities to construct a new bridge that would link the two communities together.

The existing structure, commonly called the Myrie-Borada Bridge is currently in a deplorable condition with several boards missing. Constructed 17 years ago, the wooden bridge, now rotten, is the main link between the communities of Myrie and Borada, and is two feet wide, 114 rods long and stands four feet above the stream below it.
Though residents depend on the bridge heavily to access their farm lands, schools and other facilities, it has become a safety and health hazard. A number of residents have fallen while using the bridge and in some cases resulting in injuries to their bodies. According to reports coming out of Wakapoa, three persons had to seek medical attention after falling on the bridge in recent times.

“The bridge is rotten, and residents are afraid to use it because several persons have been injured,” said Joyce Fredricks, 65.

Fredricks, who has been living in Wakapoa for the past 24 years, was recently rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital after falling through the bridge.
“I got damage on my knee. I got my bone scrape,” Fredricks told the Guyana Chronicle, while further noting that she had to be rushed in an ambulance to the Suddie Public Hospital following the incident.

According to the elderly woman, there are many more residents who fell on and through the bridge while using it. “Recently, we had a girl who is training to be a doctor, she fall and got her foot damaged too,” Fredericks pointed out.

At nights, it is even more difficult and dangerous to use, the 65-year-old said adding that there are missing boards.

It is also a safety and health concern for children who use it to get to school, Unis Thomas said. “We having school children and many times when it rains, it is slippery, so it is even harder to use,” she said.

What residents are calling for it is a new and improved structure, Thomas told this newspaper. “I would be very grateful if the authorities look into this matter,” she said.
Viera Boyan, another elderly woman, said she uses the bridge to access her farm, noting that it is often difficult to use when returning with “load” or produce from the farm. “Right now the bridge is broken, it has missing parts and it is hard to use,” Boyan complained.“We are in need of a bridge right now,” she added.

Eileen Charles echoed similar sentiments while pointing out that the bridge is very narrow.
“I am hoping that there is somebody who can look into it because we have people who were placed into the community as leaders but they care nothing about us…. We have children going to school Monday to Friday, and we have the pensioners and the clinic mothers using that very bridge, and it is not safe but we have no choice,” Phillip Robinson said.

The 76-year-old man said while it serves an important purpose, it is “very dangerous” to use. “We don’t know how many more will be injured on this bridge but what we do know is that we need help,” Robinsons said.
Wakapoa Toshao Erold Williams told the Guyana Chronicle, that three years ago the Village Council made a formal request to the Region Two Regional Democratic Council (RDC) for a new bridge to be constructed to link Borada and Myrie, but to date the council is waiting on a response.
Williams is hopeful that the RDC and/ or the Public Infrastructure Ministry could intervene, and construct a new bridge in the interest of the people.