PUBLIC Works Minister, Juan Edghill, on Tuesday, said that a Stabroek News article regarding Noitgedacht road in Region Ten is misleading and the inaccurate information is deserving of clarification.

The article in question is dated October 15, 2024 and titled “Linden Mayor calls for Closure of access road built with toxic material.”

“In the interest of transparency and public assurance, it is important to clarify that the claims made in this article are misleading. The information referenced is inaccurate, and there is no evidence of a toxic threat to the residents of Linden resulting from the materials used on the Noitgedacht road.

“The report referenced by Mr. Sharma, which highlights unsafe levels of arsenic, zinc, nickel, and chromium, stems from an unsigned document that does not pertain to the actual samples taken from the Noitgedacht road,” the release stated.

It added, “During the stakeholders’ meeting held on October 12, 2024, at the Watooka Guest House, the Minister of Public Works was presented with these concerns, and he committed to investigating them with the necessary urgency.

“Following this meeting, the Ministry of Public Works, in collaboration with a representative of the Linden Mayor and Town Council, collected a new set of samples for further testing. These tests will determine if there are any trace elements present that exceed the recommended levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for residential areas.

“In the interim, the Minister of Public Works has directed the contractor to implement daily dust suppression measures, including regular wetting of the Noitgedacht road, to minimise dust pollution affecting the community.

“Additionally, the ministry is committed to mobilising its resources to develop a long-term solution to address the concerns raised during the stakeholders’ meeting.”

Minister Edghill said that as the minister with responsibility for Region 10, he assures the people of Linden of his ministry’s unwavering commitment to their safety and well-being, both in that matter and all others.