Despite promises from the previous government that Market Road, a key access road, would be repaired prior to the May 11 elections, residents of Triumph are still waiting.
Now, Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairman Bruce Adams said although he did not directly hear from the new government he is enthusiastic about its support.
“Well, we knew election fever was on and we don’t know what happen, whether they didn’t get the money released… or whether they didn’t get the money approved by the relevant funding agencies, but they were almost sure that they were going to get it done,” Adams told Stabroek News.
“Myself and council are very concerned. We were promised by the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) to have the road done before the elections,” Adams said, while he noted that no timeframe was given as to when the project will be executed and he is not aware as to the reasons why the project is still outstanding.
Market Street is in a “miserable state” but there are other streets which also need attention, Adams said, while identifying Ogle Street, Quamina Road and Republic Drive as being among them.
Meanwhile, a businesswoman said residents of Market Street, Triumph continue to traverse the pothole-riddled road daily. “We just ga sit down and wait and bear up, because we can’t do anything right now,” she said.
Although some residents took to the streets to protest in February, in hopes of grabbing the attention of the former government to address the dire situation, their call apparently was not heard, since no action was taken to fix the roads.
Since the road connects Beterverwagting and Mon Repos, it sees significant traffic every day. However, some persons are forced to pay higher fares to public transport operators or are left abandoned since some drivers refuse to traverse it. “Is either they have to pay more or else the drivers don’t want to bring them,” the businesswoman, who sells goods in wholesale quantities, said.
Although residents volunteered to fill some of the potholes, their efforts contributed very little in improving the situation.
The businesswoman, who once drove around the area begging villagers for stones to fill the potholes, said she has since discontinued her efforts because the road continues to deteriorate, especially due to constant rain.
“Up to this morning I sit down and I hear a car coming and all I hear is bram! Is the car bottom, it drop in a hole,” the woman said, while noting that residents did not hear anything from the relevant authorities as to when the road will be fixed.
She hopes that with a new government in place the road will be fixed.
Another business owner, Hernandez (only name given), said he has also been suffering losses because drivers are refusing to traverse the area, resulting in fewer customers.
Hernandez told Stabroek News in February that he spends considerable sums on his car due to the condition of the road. He noted too that business owners who are required to transport goods through the road have also been complaining about the damage the road has caused to their vehicles.
No work has been done on the road for the past ten years, he said.
A senior citizen, who also spoke, was also hoping that the new government will address the situation with the Market Road, since it was neglected by the previous government.
The senior citizen, who declined to give his name, also pointed out another street in Triumph called Khan Street, which he said has been repaired about three times previously and is still in a deplorable state.
