Dear Editor,
I was fortunate to recently visit the road construction work ongoing at the Takutu Bridge and also over in Bom Fin, Brazil. One thing that struck me was the use of laterite as a foundation material for asphalted roads. Nowhere was any material such as crushed stone seen. And these roads seem very well constructed and of excellent quality.
Since laterite is easily available, especially in hinterland locations, I wondered if it would not have been cheaper to utilize this material in our road construction.
The highway from Bom Fin to Boa Vista and even further on to Manaus was also constructed using mainly laterite.
Probably our national road development programme would benefit if we utilized more of our local, easily accessible raw materials. If Guyana is not au fait with this form of road construction then it should liaise with Brazil to acquire the necessary technical expertise.
Another thing that was noticeable was the absence of any Guyanese presence during the construction of the access roads from the Takutu Bridge, on the Guyanese side. Couldn’t local personnel, such as engineers from the road-building division of the RDC, Region 9, or UG civil engineering students who have to design local projects, be part of this immense construction project? We could have gained vital knowledge and experience, especially in the use of laterite material as a major road-building material, from working on this project which would have aided us in our own development plans.
Yours faithfully,
M. Emile
Seems like Guyana is not interested in it’s own development. The Brazilians are doing GY’s part so why ‘interfere’ or stand around twiddling your thumbs? I guess the Guyanese were on ‘break”!!!!
Whao u expect bai, country had brain drain !!!@!!!
Emile, your letter reflexs the deficiency of governance and the overwhelming task at hand. It is pathetic. The appetite for excellence and the good engineers are gone. I have long noticed the quality and possible uses for laterite. When the time is right it will be utilised.
Good letter emille, hope the relevant authorities read this letter.
They are not qualified enough so they cannot be there.
Points made in Emille’s letter are all valuable, but not original,,… it would be informative SN., if we can get a response,cum explanation ,from official in the relevant ministry… could you pursue this SN.?…should be interesting…
Not only can Laterite be used and should be used in road building, it can also be used in the making of bricks, with simple manual brickmaking machines or the more capable mechanized versions.
Now these bricks may not last ten years, with heavy traffic, but the Laterite is plentiful, and there is a large idle labour force, that need jobs.
Once the village roads have been bricked, then all it would take is maybe two municipal workers to check the roads and replace any damaged bricks.
Why are you writing here?It is useless. Go to the Ministry Of Works and Hydraulics with some of the said material in question in your hand, and ask them at the roads division,why are they not doing what you suggested.
Isaac srampah have a company called sramsco limited, what i wanted to do is, to use laterite block to build an Real estate in my coutry but my people don’t understand what the of laterite in building industry.my fellow men i home you would get me. How can I make my people to understand me
sramsco Ltd from Ghana.W.A