IN a decisive move aimed at fulfilling electoral promises and enhancing community infrastructure, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration has successfully revamped the roads in Region Three, much to the relief and satisfaction of residents.

After enduring years of inconvenience caused by pothole-ridden roads in the Tuschen New Housing Scheme, residents expressed their gratitude for the government’s efforts in upgrading their community’s infrastructure.

In an interview with this publication, Retisha Gobin, a nurse at the Meten-Meer-Zorg health centre and a single mother, detailed the difficulties she and her son faced in commuting to work and school, particularly during the rainy season.

Nurse Gobin said, “We are very grateful that the government has completed the roads in this scheme, I am living at the back of the scheme, and getting to work in the mornings was never easy. Many days, especially in the rainy season, our footwear was left dirty due to the mud and state of the road, so this is a welcomed initiative by not just me and my son, but from all the residents of this area.”

Nurse Gobin has confirmed that cars can now easily access the back of the scheme and drive through specific streets without any difficulty. Furthermore, in emergency scenarios, there is now complete clarity on the designated route to be taken.
“Many days, my son and I would have to walk some distance before we were able to have access to a vehicle to get out to the main road; no one wanted to drive on certain roads to damage their vehicles.

And as a nurse, I often asked myself, if there was an emergency at my home or my neighbour’s house, how would an ambulance get here? Prior to these roads, it would have been almost impossible, but now that is not an issue or a concern anymore.”
Furthermore, Nurse Gobin made a request for the residents of the Tuschen New Housing Scheme to take pride in the progress achieved in their community and strive to maintain the infrastructure in a state that is both decent and usable.

Furthermore, Raymond Singh, a vendor at the Tuschen market, was interviewed by this publication. Singh expressed his satisfaction with the road reconstruction, but also implored individuals, particularly truck drivers and heavy machinery operators, to refrain from using the roadways as thoroughfares.

According to him, “It is about time that we get the roads fixed, and we are thankful for this, but I hope that the truck drivers and big machines will stop driving on the edge of the roads.”
“Yes, the roads were bad before, but many of us contributed to damaging these roads too.

Some people use it like the main road, and when it is damaged, everyone complains, but they forget that they helped to damage it too. I would like to say thank you to President Ali and his government for this development, with special thanks to Minister Indar for making sure that his people and his community are looked after.”

Singh respectfully urges his fellow vendors to maintain cleanliness in the vending area, behave responsibly, and ensure the preservation of the infrastructure. He noted, “We cannot wait so long for good roads and then damage them overnight. If you see someone damaging the roads, call the police; we have to do our part too.”

A teacher from Tuschen Primary School, who wishes to remain anonymous, described the difficulties faced by both teachers and students in commuting to school punctually and in an organised manner.

The teacher mentioned that the students and teachers of the school often complained or discussed the damage caused to their shoes by the roads. Parents have been observed carrying their children to school to ensure they arrive punctually and neatly. Alternatively, in certain situations, depending on their location, parents choose not to drive or take a ride.

“Mr. President, on behalf of the teachers and pupils of Tuschen Primary School, we want to say thank you for making these roads a priority for 2024. We see that development is happening in all the communities in Guyana, but we were eagerly awaiting our turn, so thanks again.”

Deodat Indar, the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, expounded on the PPP/C government’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life for its citizens through community initiatives, as evidenced by one of his community outreaches.