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Little Diamond residents complain of unsafe bridge
Residents of the New Little Diamond Squatting Area on the East Bank of Demerara are at their wits end concerning a deteriorated foot bridge that affords them access to the Little Diamond Housing Scheme.
The wooden structure is the quickest access route the residents of the squatting area have to the neighbouring Housing Scheme, and is traversed daily by the young and old.
According to residents in the area, the bridge which was constructed three years ago began to deteriorate about five to six months ago.
The current state of the bridge at New Little Diamond Squatting Area.
The danger of the bridge falling apart becomes more real because of the presence of a koker about 50 yards down stream.
The major concern of the residents is that should the bridge collapse while someone is walking, and the koker happens to be open at the same time, that person would be swept into the Demerara river.
According to Chairman of the Community Development Council, Howard Charles, children from nursery to secondary ages use the bridge to get to school and there is always the danger of the bridge collapsing.
Currently, a section of the bridge leans severely on one side, and a segment of the hand rails has collapsed completely.
According to residents, the threat worsens on rainy days, and makes it extremely dangerous to cross the unstable walkway, as the planks (some of which are loose) become slippery, causing those utilising it to be extra cautious.
Kaieteur News understands that three engineers from the Ministry of Public Works visited the area, photographed the bridge and promised to look into the matter.
One resident of the squatting area, Surendra Bausraj, told Kaieteur News that the first engineer who visited the bridge had indicated that he would have some repairs done to the haphazard structure.
One month later, a male and a female engineer visited the bridge and made the same promise. Charles recalled that the female engineer refused to cross the bridge, and told the residents that they should instead use another bridge in the area.
They explained that should they be forced to use the other bridge for the same purposes, more time would be taken, and, added to this, some residents of the squatting area would be made to walk a longer distance.
The other bridge to which the engineer referred was recently rebuilt by the community. The previous structure had collapsed some three weeks ago, and the construction of a new structure was completed for the Diwali holiday.
According to residents, the larger bridge collapsed just as a car was crossing it three weeks ago. The community then pooled their resources, bought the required materials, and had the bridge, which is mainly used by vehicles, reconstructed.
According to Charles, a representative at the Ministry informed him that they have not budgeted for repairs to the walking bridge. The community would have to wait until next year to have another constructed in its place, he said.
Kaieteur News understands that the CDC Chairman visits the Ministry twice a week, and that he has addressed four letters to the Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn, the Neighbourhood Democratic Council and two of the engineers that previously visited the area. (Andrunie Harris)
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