-prices rising
Rain over the past week swelled rivers and washed away sections of roads, almost locking off access to the South Rupununi where residents are bracing for a harsh rainy season as the prices of goods rise.
Recently, several residents of Deep South Rupununi communities had complained bitterly about the poor quality of road work being done and had predicted that with heavy rains sections of a newly-upgraded road would have washed away since culverts in some low-lying areas to channel water, were not built. Their fears were realized over the weekend as sections of the road at different points washed away. Persons were stranded and vehicular mobility was limited, Stabroek News was told.
Region Nine Chairman, Clarindo Lucas confirmed that roads were damaged. “Yes the roads have washed away. Would you like to send us some money to deal with it”, he asked this reporter when contacted. He said that the region was looking to see how fast it can deal with the problem. He said the roads washed away due to the rainfall and “no one can direct God’s work”. The chairman said future questions would have to be faxed to him because he would no longer be speaking via telephone.
At several forums, including when this newspaper was present and since last year, residents had repeatedly questioned the quality of road-work being done on upgrading the Lethem-Aishalton road. Last year, a section of road, close to Mountain Point had washed away and another section, close to that point washed away over the weekend, a resident who travelled the trail last week told Stabroek News. “All rivers and creeks were flooded on Thursday and Friday for the first time although (there were) no proper heavy showers as we know it”, the resident said. One businesswoman heading to Aishalton was stranded since Saturday as slushy roads and the washed away sections made the trail almost impassable. Up to late yesterday, she was more than half-way away from her destination. Teachers from the Deep South Rupununi, who were scheduled to attend a workshop beginning yesterday, were unable to travel because of the floods.
A resident who spoke with this newspaper expressed fear that rain would wash away more of the road thus cutting off the remote area from the rest of the Region. He said the price of gasoline had already gone up along with the price of goods. With access to the area difficult, only small quantities of goods are reaching the area, this newspaper was told. According to the resident, this combined with a poor cassava crop due to the past El Nino, could see locals facing a food shortage. Up to the weekend, this newspaper was informed that at least three sections of the road between Katoonarib and Shulinab had washed away. The resident expressed fear at what would happen when the roads worsen and fewer vehicles can access the area.
Geography
According to the resident, the problem is that the contractor does not understand the geography of the area and how the water flows. At one point, from Shulinab heading to Mountain Point, the road is nothing more than slush. The resident said that many more culverts are needed and the contractors need to go in during the rainy season to see what happens and also meet residents who know what happens during the rainy season. He added that the roads now are not made with heavy duty vehicles in mind especially during the rainy season.
In addition, this newspaper was told that instead of laterite used to fill the road, mud from the sides were used and capped by laterite. He said that locals could have done a better job pointing to some work done through the District Toshaos Council, which has vastly improved the road and still endures through the rains. “Even though the road is being done, nothing has improved”, he said adding that because of the materials used during the rainy season “instead of making travel more fast, it is making it much slower”.
Meantime, two years after collapsing under the weight of an excavator heading to mine, the critical Rupununi River Bridge at Katoonarib remains unfixed. But it is this crossing which vehicles are using now because of floods at the river crossing at Dadawanawa. Stabroek News was told that some persons used boats or canoes while those more agile walk across the lone rickety plank on the broken bridge. The resident said that vehicles wait on one side of the river and turn back while another vehicle picks up persons on the opposite side.
Last year Lucas had told this newspaper that the plan is to build a “better, stronger bridge”. The broken bridge had been constructed at a cost of $16 million and Lucas had said that work on the bridge had not yet started because they are awaiting funds to start construction. He had said that since the existing bridge will have to be modified, extra money will have to be allocated but asserted that this would be a challenge because of the economic constraints facing the country. On a trip to the Deep South Rupununi recently, a Stabroek News reporter saw other damaged bridges including one that was washed away and another that was partially burnt. The broken Rupununi River bridge is only one of two that have been built over the river. The other is at Karaudarnau.
The resident said that it is the same situation they have been experiencing for years and they are often told of money spent “on so-called development but nothing improves”. He said that a lot of taxpayers’ money could have been saved had the proper systems been in place. “They are wasting money here”, he asserted.
