Minister of Local Government, Nigel Dharamlall this afternoon said he has ordered a halt to the planned cutting of century-old rubber trees at Mabaruma.
On his Facebook page he said: “It was brought to my attention that the Mabaruma Town Council began cutting the rubber trees that are in the path of a road which was slated for construction since the last Government.
“I was also informed that the consultation done under the last administration had agreement for the (trees) to be cut.
“I have since instructed the Mayor and Regional Chair of the following:
1. Stop cutting the trees.
2. Publish the results of the consultation done under the last government with the names of persons and bodies participating.
3. Discuss with the Ministry of Public Works the best engineering solution to have the road constructed with the trees remaining”.
Following consultations with residents of Mabaruma in Region One, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) along with the Mayor and Town Council had decided to remove the century-old rubber trees that line the Philbert Pierre Avenue roadway in the town saying that the trees are a threat to the lives of residents and also infrastructure.
Starting today approximately 101 rubber trees and a mango tree were be chopped down to facilitate the continuation of a road expansion project that has been stalled for more than a year. It was expected by Mayor Chris Phang that within 7 to 14 days all the trees would be removed.
Regional Chairman Brentol Ashley told Stabroek News today that the decision to have the trees removed was a decision made collectively by the RDC and Mabaruma Town Council after several consultations with residents who are of the opinion that the trees pose a threat to the lives of people and infrastructure close to the area.
“The trees on the Philbert Pierre Avenue are over 100 years old. Most of them, I could say about 99% are over 100 years old. And over the last decade or so we have been facing threat from the trees. The trees are a threat and danger to lives and infrastructure especially during the rainy season when we have heavy rain falls and heavy winds within the community,” he said before adding that residents have related near-death experiences whereby heavy branches from the trees fell either behind or before them when on the roadway. In addition, he stated million-dollar fences and vehicles have also been destroyed by falling trees or branches.
Ashley acknowledged that while persons are petitioning not to have the trees removed, the decision to cut down them down was made in the interest of the people.
“Those trees pose a threat because of the age and this would’ve had to be done sooner or later,” he said today, adding that residents have proposed to have artifacts made from the trees so that they can have a reminder of their existence.
The revelation that the trees will be removed has resuscitated an online petition that was created over a year ago and persons are once again calling on the relevant authorities to ensure the trees are not removed.
In an interview with Stabroek News in 2019, Phang related that over the years, residents of the town had made numerous attempts to plant rubber trees. All their attempts failed, so the only successful rubber-tree planting exercise is the one done by Pierre.
