Traffic hazards litter railway embankment -NDC Chairman calls for stiffer penalties

Travelling along the East Coast Railway Embankment one is met with countless piles of sand, stacks of freshly made concrete blocks, shacks and shops, all dangerously close to or on the roadway.

Those who have engaged in this hazardous practice have been repeatedly given notices to desist but in many instances they have not complied even though the police have gotten involved. As a result of this motorists and others who use this roadway are left exposed to grave danger.

Just recently, a motor cycle was found stuck in a pile of sand at Annandale, Railway Embankment and the motorcyclist lay dead several feet away. Police have since said that the man, Christopher Edwards, most likely died as a result of an accident and residents have expressed concerns about the sand pile being there, stressing that it is a traffic hazard.

In addition to this, there was a stack of concrete blocks nearby and a huge sand pile farther up which is taking over half of the road.

When Stabroek News visited the area, vehicles were seen swerving dangerously away from the pile which is directly on the road. This newspaper was unable to ascertain who owned the pile which was apparently being used in the construction of a house nearby.

The owner of the second pile and the stack of concrete blocks bluntly told this newspaper that “me thing ain’t deh pon de road”, pointing to the other pile farther up.

He further said that his sand was for making concrete blocks but because of the rainy weather the workers were unable to use it.

The man went on to say that sometime back forestry officials had clamped down on him for having wood at the side of the road and ordered it removed. He also had to pay a fine, he said. He added that since then he has not engaged in that practice and has ensured that his things are not in a dangerous position.

No respect for the law

Residents from Mon Repos to Annandale, who are engaged in this type of practice have been accused by the Chairman of Mon Repos NDC, Richard Bactawar of having no respect for the law, local authority, central government or the police.

When Stabroek News contacted him last week for a comment he explained that many of these residents who have been given notices to remove their material from the roadway, do not comply and even if they do they later return to this practice.

However Chairman of Region Four Clement Corlette said that it is the NDCs who have to take the responsibility for what the residents are doing. He said that it is the duty of the NDCs to prosecute these residents if they do not heed the notice.

“If they serve the notice and the people are not complying, they have to go to the Magistrate and get that person prosecuted. Instead they are leaving everything haphazard and incomplete. They are not doing any follow-ups after they serve the notices”, Corlette said.

He said too that plans are on stream through the Regional Environmental Department to train persons to be special prosecutors to deal with these cases when they reach the court.

Bactawar also told this newspaper that the obstruction of the roadways is a regular practice at Lusignan, Mon Repos and Good Hope adding that several businesspersons in those areas who are making concrete blocks on the road have been sent notices but have continued to do so.

Further, he said his workers are often abused and threatened when they go to serve the notices and it is at this point that they call in the police for help.

“We do go to the police sometimes and ask for their assistance but they tell us that it is an NDC matter