– Matarkai residents furious over misuse of excavator

WHERE is the mini-excavator that was repaired to the tune of $5M?
This is the question on the minds of residents of the Matarkai sub-region of the North West District who were told recently that the excavator is being utlised by the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) for private purposes.

What they were told specifically is that the Opposition-controlled NDC had granted permission several months ago to a miner who has close ties to the incumbent NDC Chair, Margaret Lambert to take the excavator into the Port Kaituma backdam.

Repeated efforts to give Lambert the opportunity to respond to the allegation, however, have proven futile as her phone is always off.

In January this year, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson had handed over the refurbished excavator, which had been out of commission for approximately three years, to the NDC.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) had reported at the time that more than $5M was spent to change the excavator’s tracks, repair its hydraulic system and install new air conditioning.

Minister Ferguson had urged the NDC to care the equipment, which was expected to be used for drainage and minor rehabilitative works, and to maintain it regularly.

“I’m delighted to hear that it would not only be used for road works but drainage works also, which is another concern of the residents in Port Kaituma,” she said, adding:
“Certain areas are experiencing flooding due to the lack of proper drainage maintenance. The person who will be monitoring this excavator, you have to hold that person responsible for its durability.”

Weighing in on the matter at the time, too, was Regional Chairman, Brentnol Ashley, who said:
“This excavator will assist the NDC in conducting minor works that could not have been done due to lack of this equipment. I trust that they will maintain it so that it can last.”
Lambert, too, had had a say at the time, to the effect that the machinery will alleviate the road issues, thereby benefitting residents and numerous children in the affected areas.

Yet reports abound that under her chairmanship, the machine has been misused time and again, with some even alleging that one miner is in the habit of paying huge sums of money to have the use of it whenever it takes his fancy.

As one Matarkai resident noted, the issue has cast a bad light on the NDC where its ability to manage is concerned, and is perhaps one of the reasons why the Opposition People’s Progressive Party got the upper hand at the recent Local Government Elections (LGEs).
“That’s not the purpose of it!” another said. “It is supposed to be used for works within the NDC; not in a backdam!”