Nothing to show for road expenditure

Dear Editor,

Since assuming office in 1992, the various PPP/C administrations have expended tens of billions, if not hundreds of billions, on roads across the country. That would be a commendable feat if it were not for the deplorable state of most of the very roads that have been built, some not three years ago.

I have tried to identify one stretch of road that was built three years ago and, with the exception of selected portions of the Corentyne, Linden and Vreed-en-Hoop highways, I cannot identify any good roads anywhere else.

The roads range from fairly good to really atrocious. For example, the railway embankment can be regarded as in fair shape although there are large sections that are pot-holed or very uneven. The bridges are hazardous and have to be negotiated with the utmost caution.

At the other end of the continuum we have the nightmarish roads in the sprawling Sophia community. Not one road in Sophia is worthy of being called such. The drivers that ply the Lethem route would normally use those roads to test the suspension and other under-carriage components of their vehicles before embarking on the long journey to Lethem. That speaks volumes about the state of the roads in this area.

Then we have roads in between. For example we have the roads in Prospect and recently established Diamond Housing Scheme; we have the atrocious roads in the Enterprise and South Vryheid’s Lust Housing Schemes; there are the craters in Crane and Canal No1. What about the never-ending construction of the East Bank road?

Residents can add their respective communities. When we compute the amount spent on roads then it would be apparent how little we have to show for it.

Yours faithfully,

Carl Parker Sr

Regional Councillor

Region 9