Dear Editor,
Just recently, the trail going from Lethem to the south of the Rupununi, between Shulinab and Mountain Point, was upgraded to allow easier access, especially in the rainy season.
What actually happened saw millions of taxpayers’ dollars once more being wasted. The foundation used was the powder dust alongside the trail, and then a kind of layer of laterite was laid on top to make it look good. When we the residents saw the kind of work being done, we knew that it would never withstand any kind of rain. The first so-called introductory showers are testimony to this. This year there has been no kind of rain whatsoever. The little that fell last night, July 16, bore no comparison to the rain which falls out here in the south, but it ran off the nearby mountains and began washing off the substandard work.
This evening there are a number of persons including a patient and children, who have to spend some time in Shulinab because they are not certain when they will be able to pass the damaged trail to reach home. Some businesspersons who were bringing much needed basic food items, chicken, fuel, etc, are already beginning to count their losses. Shouldn’t these people be compensated for something which could have been avoided?
I say this Editor, because in previous times, last year and years gone by, this same piece of trail never gave us problems. The fact that this supposed all-weather road, not more than two months old and intended to assist us in the rainy season, washed away in the first rainfall is beyond our comprehension. We are frustrated by the sub-standard work being done and we need an urgent, proper and professional investigation. Who evaluated this work upon completion? How much taxpayers’ money was expended on this project? Taxpayers should begin demanding professional work for their dues. This calamity reminds us all of the recent collapse of the Rupununi bridge before it was officially opened. This is Guyana.
All that had to be done was for a professional assessment to be made. The ordinary man can tell you there is no need to scrape the top soil on hills and lay some kind of layer; the foundation is already hard and compact enough, something which was recognized previously. Had only the bad spots gotten the attention they needed, the trail leading to the Deep South would have been accessible with the same amount of money as used in this case, and still with change left over for more work the following year.
This is not good enough and it is time that substandard public works be treated with the seriousness that they deserve. We in the South Rupununi are totally fed up and frustrated with the continuing calamities and blatant disregard for our livelihoods. Those white collar officers, who sit in their offices all day, should come out in the thick of a proper rainy season to see with their own eyes what we have to pass through.
It leaves me to wonder when the Low Carbon Development Strategy is implemented whether this substandard work will continue. If that is the case, we are staring at a bleak future and the gap will continue to grow. The few rich will get richer and us poor will become poorer. US$580M is quite a temptation.
We can change Guyana beginning now, by doing something about this haphazard piece of work and other works, and holding those responsible accountable.
Yours faithfully,
T. James
Atrocities all over and the government bodies are not paying attention. They are going to wait until the the land which lies 6 feet under mean sea level; which was originally swamp lands before the Dutch made it into plantations for growing sugar cane (by building the sea walls and trenches and dykes thus draining the land; and that which now becomes the costal areas wwashes away and becomes the next Louisiana – then and only then will they begin to take things seriously.
What’s new, this is how they waste taxpayer’s money.
The government keeps doing the same things repeatedly and expect different results. The government should ask for a refund!!!!
Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is a sign of insanity.
hehheheheh PPP Infrastructure building at its best. Road made wid washable materials.
Hmmm give this engineer and contractor a bonus please!
Thats right Mr James. “Hold those responsible accountable”. Start with the ones that did the work. They need to do it over AT NO COST to the taxpayers.
“Hold those responsible accountable.” Start with the ones that gave the contrator the work. They need to do it over AT NO COST to the taxpayers.
The last 2 people to hold anyone accountable was Joseph O’lall and the last auditor general what happened to them?
Please you think the PPP are interested in holding anyone accountable? all they are interested is in poking other politicians eyes out. They are very very supportive of a blind society.
Mr. James as a responsible citizen you need to bring out this type of poor infrastructure and work done out into the open. Don,t be like other villagers who just keep quiet and don,t say anything.
I hope if a new road is built in your area it will be done according to specifications and input from the citizens of the Rupununi.
The people of Guyana has to be its own inspectors, engineers, and experts. Always report unsubstantial work in the press, the government, and engineers. Don,t the have engineers who inspect the completion of the roads. Why are they being paid?
This is a total failure to the people here.This is chacannery at work.An investigation should be conducted in the awarding of contracts,the inspection of finished projects for code compliance and by whom, and the amount of money paid, and to whom.
What about the company that said they can provide a low cost polymer for road foundation? No road can stand up to the full force of natures fury, but certainly things can be done to control that force and limit damage. Plant rows of lemon grass along the road side to take the brunt of the runoff and slow it down, eventually natural enbankments will develop along both sides of the road.
Joe.
Any pictures before and after of the ‘road that washed away’
One has to wonder in all this time, has anyone who has contracted to do this type work on the road to the deep south, ever bothered to ask the local people who live in the area where and how would be the best way to improve the road? I think not. After all what do they know, they just live there and have to traverse the road to access needed goods from Lethem or other major points. If I remember correctly several years ago it was the people of South and South Central who filled several bad places in the road them selves. Why not hire these same people to do the job right, at least they have a vested interest in improving the very road that provides them with much needed supplies.
Excellent point. The locals did the repairs manually along with vehicles such as tractors etc. And their work withstood the rainy season.
They really should have been considered to undertake further repairs to the road. Because, as you highlighted, they will be the ones who benefit from good work.
If only the regional officials could be so brave and make such a decision!
the REO of region nine is donald gajraj, brother of a former minister of home affairs
residents have complained of his arrogance and heavy handedness for a long time.
the madness of it all came to public light at the recent toshao conference at the aishalton benab
a toshao from south rupununi was complaining about the status of a road to which mr gajraj interrupted to assure all present that the road had been fixed within the three days the toshao had passed to much laughter from the other toshaos
minister of local govt kellawan lall had to stop donald gajraj from making up excuse after excuse as to why roads and schools in region nine are being repaired over and over and over again
also present was minister of amerindian affairs and some UN/UNICEF folks
the light is beginning to shine brighter on the lawlessness that passes for public contracting in Guyana
Great info Nelly this is the kind of nonsense the ppp continues to tolerate from their blind lackys who they never hold accountable.