Frustrated truckers who have been stuck along the Hunt Oil Stretch of the Linden/Lethem trail for some two weeks have threatened to block access to and from Region 9 as repairs to the road continue to be delayed by rains.
Stabroek News understands that the operators of close to a dozen trucks, laden with food supplies, dry goods and fuel had made attempts to block access to and from the border region on Wednesday evening. The trucks have been waiting for permission to proceed to Lethem from the Annai area but this newspaper understands that repairs to that section of the road are still ongoing.
Transport Minister Robeson Benn stated over the weekend that repairs to a 300-ft stretch along the Hunt Oil road had to be completed and the Ministry was hoping to complete repairs within three days provided the weather is conducive. That period has passed.
Regional Chairman Clarindo Lucas told Stabroek News yesterday that he was aware of the situation at the Hunt Oil road area but he needed to confirm it. He noted that the truckers may be “ill-advised” and according to him the operators were generally understanding of the situation. Lucas said that a truck operator attempted to travel into the area several days ago but the truck has been stuck at the side of the road.
A minibus driver who travelled along the trail on Wednesday evening told Stabroek News yesterday that as he approached the Hunt Oil stretch he was told by colleagues in the area that the truckers, who would assist operators of minibuses and other smaller vehicles which are stuck in the slushy section of the road, have been ignoring calls for assistance. He said that the drivers of the larger vehicles claimed that “it was the minibuses and pick-ups who are damaging” that section of the road and according to him attempts were made to block the road with trucks. He noted, however, that he and the other minibus drivers reasoned with the truckers that there was nothing more that can be done to remedy the situation.
The minibus driver noted that the contractor has tried his best to make that aspect of the trail passable and he noted too that it was rainy weather which had been playing a main role in the current state of the road.
Mini-bus driver Mark Mcallough told this newspaper yesterday that the on-going situation has seen the cost of maintaining his vehicle skyrocketing to approximately $42,000 per one-way trip. The changing of oil and vehicle parts were listed as being chief among the expenses. He said that it is the two areas—the Hunt Oil stretch and the Cork Wood area—which are a cause of concern to bus operators. He said that the level of the water at the Pirara Creek was also being looked at by road users as water from the creek had flooded sections of the road recently.
Mcallough said that the buses resorted to travelling in convoys of three to four as assistance is usually required from other bus operators as well as passengers in lifting and pulling the buses out of impassable areas. The bus driver said that he left Lethem around midday on Tuesday and arrived in the city around 1 am yesterday.
Meanwhile, Lucas noted yesterday that he received new reports of sections of the road deteriorating at Cork Wood, close to the Iwokrama Rainforest Reserve, with a truck being stuck in the area, impeding the flow of traffic. He said that it was unclear if the situation there was serious as he awaited reports from regional officers who travelled to the area.
He said that he could not give a timeline as to when heavy vehicles would be able to travel between Annai and Lethem. He added, “My fear is… though we have food… getting supplies here are critical at this stage.”
The Hunt Oil stretch is being repaired by a private contractor who was hired by the Public Works Ministry while the Mekdeci Mining Company (MMC) is responsible for another bad patch along the road at the Cork Wood location, close to the Iwokrama Reserve.
