MAINTENANCE works on the Mabura, Kwakwani and Lethem roads are expected to commence within weeks, Ministry of Natural Resources announced on Friday.
More than $650M from Guyana Geology and Mines Commission’s (GGMC) coffers has been set aside to facilitate the road projects which are critical to miners and forest operators in the gold, diamond and timber industries. The multi-million-dollar projects are being executed by the Natural Resources Ministry with funding from GGMC, and technical assistance from the Public Infrastructure Ministry.

In a statement on Friday, the ministry explained that on May 3, 2018 a total of six road contracts valued at over $650M were awarded to various contractors for the maintenance of the Rockstone-Mabura, Kurupukari-Annai-Lethem and the Linden-Ituni-Kwakwani roads. This is in addition to a previous contract awarded to JR Ranch for the Manari Bridge approach realignment in Region 9, Rupununi valued at $83,003, 620.
“The roads were identified following discussions with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association and several miners and forest operators who had explained that the condition of the roads was hindering their production efforts and costing more to move supplies in and out of the interior,” the Natural Resources Ministry explained.

Though the Ituni-Kwakwani road underwent repairs in April, it is now back in a deplorable condition. Several sections of the road, which stretches from Linden to Ituni to Kwakwani, are almost impassable. According to drivers plying the route, the situation has now gone from bad to worse.

In the past, it took residents approximately two hours from Linden to Kwakwani but the journey is now four to five hours long. Ituni and Kwakwani are located in Sub-region 2 of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

However, the Natural Resources Ministry has assured that the rehabilitation of the Linden-Ituni-Kwakwani Road will recommence at the end of the May-June rainy season. GGMC through the Natural Resources Ministry awarded contracts for the repairs to the road to International Imports and Supplies to the tune of $239.7M. The contractor has reportedly mobilised his equipment at the site. Marking out of the road has commenced.
“The Linden-Kwakwani road is an important conduit for forest operators and repairs will also benefit the residents of these two communities and those along the corridor including the residents of Ituni and Aroaima. Persons living along the Berbice River will also benefit. The works include ditching, excavating, section repairs of soft spot and filling with laterite,” the Ministry explained.

Region 10 A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Representative in the National Assembly Jermaine Figueira told Guyana Chronicle that Government is fully aware of the challenges facing commuters who have little or no choice but to ensure the treacherous journey on the Linden-Ituni-Kwakwani road. However, he, like the Natural Resources Ministry, said that the heavy and constant showers are stalling the multimillion dollar project which will bring much relief to residents.

Once the project recommences, Figueira is urging residents along the route to monitor the works closely to ensure that the project is executed in keeping with the scope of works.
“I would like to encourage the people of Kwakwani that they should be integrally involved in the process to ensure that the contractor honours the contractual arrangement. They need to be the ears and the eyes on the ground because they are the ones who suffer as a result of the deplorable state of the road,” the APNU+AFC MP said.

Also in Region 10, maintenance of the Rockstone-Mabura Road should commence at the end of the rainy season. A $140.4M contract was awarded to MMC Inc. for this project.
Meanwhile, maintenance of the Annai to Lethem Road is expected to commence in the first week of this month pending facilitating weather. The contract for that project was awarded to D&R Construction and Machinery Rental on May 3, 2018 to the tune of $139.3M. “The contractor has submitted all bonds and the mobilisation advance is being processed,” the ministry noted, adding that the contract for the continuing section of the road from Annai to Kurupukari was awarded on the same date to MMC Inc. Work was scheduled to commence in the final week of May.

The ministry said too that the realignment of the Manari Bridge approach is also expected to start at the end of the rainy season. An $83M contract was awarded to JR Ranch for this project. This realignment has become necessary following several accidents and a promise made by government to intervene to preserve lives and limbs.

In his 2018 National Budget speech, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, had said that his ministry plans to work with the public infrastructure ministry to improve the intricate road network in the six mining districts. Approximately $2B has been earmarked for repairs under this initiative.

The joint initiative of the GGMC, ministries of Natural Resources and Public Infrastructure, to maintain and rehabilitate the roads, is aimed at providing the physical infrastructure necessary for these operators to maintain production in the extractive industries and residents are urged to monitor the works in their communities and to make reports on the progress or lack thereof.