Dear Editor,
When our President visited the Rupununi in September for the opening of the Takutu Bridge much work was hurriedly done on infrastructure in and around Lethem, such as roads. One of these works was the grading of the dam road that connects St Ignatius Village to Lethem. This was done because the President was scheduled to have a meeting in St Ignatius Village.
As has happened so many times before, it seems that the grading of the dam was done simply for the President’s visit, because from then to now the road has once again turned into a ‘scrubbing board,’ yet no one from the regional administration, a mere half-mile further down the road, has returned to see what this dam has once again become and take the necessary remedial action.
The St Ignatius dam is a narrow stretch of road approximately 300m in length and with a width of approximately 3m. It was uplifted to a height of more than 6m to prevent flooding. Because of its dimensions this tract of road makes for careful driving, with some sections so narrow that two vehicles cannot pass. Any error of judgement and a vehicle can topple off the road.
One would have thought that the necessary authorities would have identified this dam road as high risk and do everything in their power to ensure that it is maintained in a suitable driving condition. Yet, time and again, this dam is left to develop extensive corrugations, commonly called ‘scrubbing board,’ which makes driving even more dangerous than what already exists. Drivers are often seen struggling to control their vehicles as they slip and slide while trying to manoeuvre the ‘scrubbing boards.’ When the road is as narrow as the St Ignatius dam, such driving conditions are a recipe for disaster. Indeed, quite a few vehicles and cyclists have fallen off the dam because of the road conditions. Fortunately there have been no fatalities.
Even more frustrating for residents is that whenever some senior government functionary is to visit St Ignatius the regional administration always finds time and money to grade the dam, but as soon as these officers leave the location the dam, and indeed roads in general, are left to the elements.
A year ago, the regional administration made the error of repairing the bridge along the St Ignatius dam during the rainy season. Despite repeated warnings of the dangers of such activity they still went ahead and demolished the bridge leaving the residents of St Ignatius having to take extreme risks to get from the village to Lethem. The consequence of their decision was that a villager slipped off the bridge, hit his head and drowned. After the death of the villager, the administration belatedly put safer systems in place for persons crossing the bridge.
One get a similar sense of déjà vu with this dam road. The warning signs are blinking but the authorities do not seem to be reading them. Will they again be reactive, probably after a major accident to remedy this situation?
It is hoped that this letter meets the eye of someone in authority who has the interests and safety of the people of Lethem, St Ignatius and its environs at heart, and undertake immediate remedial works on the St Ignatius dam. Please do not wait until it’s too late.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
