The state of their roads, some recently rehabilitated, is a source of dissatisfaction for Barticans, who lament that the thoroughfares begin to deteriorate shortly after work is done to upgrade them.
Residents told this newspaper on a recent visit to the Region Seven community that after the One to Four Miles section of the Bartica-Potaro Road was repaired last year, a few weeks later it began deteriorating. Protests by residents in August last year had seen a contract being hastily awarded for the rehabilitation of the said section of the road. Guyco Construction executed the works under the contract, which was said to be worth $18M. It involved grading and shaping the road and drains. The road is mostly made out of loam but about 700 feet of it was sealed with asphalt and even this is wearing away.
The company completed the works in October but during the December rains, it began deteriorating. This newspaper observed that there were many potholes on the road and the mud drains had virtually collapsed or filled up. Chairman of Region Seven, Holbert Knights said that the problem was that the allocated funds were “woefully inadequate” but he did not think that money was wasted because the road “worked” in October and November and travellers had some relief.
The current state of the road, is similar to its state before being repaired last year, this newspaper was told. “It take a lot out of your vehicle…gasoline and every-day wear and tear”, one driver observed stating that he would be happy if the road was fixed.
Knights said that another contract was recently awarded to the same company to upgrade the very section of the road. He stated that the construction company was assembling materials in preparation for commencing work though nothing much can be done until the weather changes. He stated that according to the contract, the road will have a “crusher run surface” this time though the drains will still be made of earth.
The Regional Chairman, however disclosed that he was preparing a request for “a change of programme because it will not last for the next rainy season”. He said that this would ask for better drains and sealed surfaces.
Meantime, sections of roads constructed under the Community Service Enhancement Project have also been deteriorating. This project had involved the construction of a new market and the upgrading of about 95% of the roads in Bartica to asphalt surfaces, Knights said. He noted that Vikab was the consultant while the project was supervised by the Ministry of Finance.
The Chairman told this newspaper that the road works were completed early last year and the defects liability period for the contractor, H. Nauth and Sons, ended last November but there are some issues with parts of the road. This included potholes at First Avenue and a partly caved in bridge at Sixth Street, between First and Second Avenue. Knights said that the problems were brought to the attention of the project coordinator in mid-October but nothing was done.
He explained that the region had an Oversight Committee and when the defects were indentified, it was expected that the contractor would have corrected these within the defects liability period. He noted that the issues were brought to the attention of the Committee during the execution phase and in October last year, the project coordinator visited and garnered first hand information on the defects but not much has been done. Knights added that the contractor made an attempt in November to rectify the defects but stopped without giving an explanation. He expressed the hope that repairs would be undertaken.
Meantime, this newspaper was informed that at the collapsed section of the Sixth Street Bridge, recently a resident, David Brow broke his leg, when he fell into the hole while walking at night. This, according to one resident, should make repairing of that section a priority before more serious accidents occur.
