Dear Editor,
As hardships for miners and residents of the Middle and Upper Mazaruni mount, due to the sunken river dragger which has blocked the river channel and is preventing the only form of public transport to those areas – jet boats – from operating, a very strong finger of reprimand must be pointed at the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure for their lax handling of the situation. They have allowed this blockage of a critical public waterway to go on for over four months without any intervention or remedial action.
Junior Minister of Natural Resources, Ms Simona Broomes and representatives from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) held a press conference to discuss this same issue months ago when the problems and dangers of navigating the river around the sunken river dragger first surfaced. At that conference the Minister promised to have the matter resolved within two weeks at the maximum, and it looked like a timely and highly approved intervention which showed foresight and thought for people working and residing in that area.
However, months later, with people of the Middle and Upper Mazaruni still pleading for assistance in getting the sunken wreckage removed, one has to wonder if the Minister’s earlier intervention was just a moment of PR gimmickry? Why was no follow-up action undertaken after the ministry realized that the owner of the sunken river dragger was getting nowhere in having the wreckage removed?
What about MARAD? What did they do on this matter since their press conference alongside Minister Broomes? Did they do any follow-up checks to see if the owner of the dragger was making any headway in having the vessel removed? Did they keep their relevant ministry updated on the matter? And what course of action was followed by the Minister upon receipt of the information?
That two government agencies were involved in handling the situation of the sunken river dragger pointed to the critical importance of having the issue resolved within the shortest possible time. That neither was able to resolve the matter, thus resulting in this present crisis situation, points to a dereliction of responsibility somewhere along the chain of command which should be investigated.
On a further point of note, it is sincerely hoped that both the Ministries of Natural Resources and Public Infrastructure realize the importance of repairing the Bartica-Issano road which has been in a state of disrepair for years. If this road was being maintained, then the situation with the sunken dragger would not have reached this critical point, since there would have been an alternative access route. Hopefully this road will now be given priority consideration for emergency repairs. As it is, the main points in need of repairs are near to Issano Landing. Any emergency works should consider repairs from this location first.
When this situation will be resolved still remains an unanswered question. Many people are suffering and quite a few have already reached a state of crisis. The relevant government officials owe it to the people to at least give regular updates on how they are handling the issue and give a timeframe of when it would be resolved.
Minister Broomes was willing to issue a press release when the situation first happened. She is needed once again to address the people and their concerns.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
