Truckers fearful of traversing Linden to Lethem trail

Aug 05, 2012 News

Drivers of cargo trucks are fearful of traversing the Linden to Lethem trail, owing to criminal elements, resulting in increased prices for fuel and food in neighbouring mining districts.
The flow of traffic in and out of mining areas, such as Mahdia, has been difficult since the protest in Linden started on July 18. The protest originally targeted electricity tariff hikes and was expected to last for five days. It now includes a call for justice for three men who were allegedly killed by ranks of the Guyana Police Force on the first day of the protest.
Its end is uncertain and criminal elements have infiltrated the protest. To avoid being robbed of millions many businesses in Mahdia are utilising alternative means- air and the Bartica to Mahdia route – to transport cargo.
According to a Mahdia businessman, transporting cargo via air and the Bartica to Mahdia route are expensive. As such, wholesalers are forced to increase their prices. The price for fuel was reduced on Thursday, but news of disturbances at Rockstone on Thursday evening sent the prices back up.
“We want to reduce our prices but drivers are fearful to traverse the area. It is unsafe, nobody wants to lose millions. Look at that businessman Adams who lost millions,” the man stated.
He stressed that despite the high cost, Mahdia residents and miners are accessing food. Villages along Miles 47 and 58 are not so fortunate.
“Those villages are between Linden and Mahdia and with nothing going and coming they cannot access food items. They do get some stuff from time to time when trucks are coming out of Mahdia, but now vehicles hardly going out,” he said.
Currently, a drum of diesel costs between $65,000 and $75,000 and one litre of gas costs between $3,000 and $3,500. Prices for food items are soaring almost daily as supplies are costly to transport by air. In addition, the power outage has caused meat and fish to spoil.
According to the businessman, the Mahdia Power Company has shut down its operations. Many businessmen have approached the company with an offer to assist in providing fuel to power its operations but the Management has declined to accept.
According to a female resident, the situation in Mahdia is dire, especially for single parents. The woman emphasized that preparing a ‘pot’ for five amounts to $4,000. She added that a plate of food is being sold for $1,500 on Mahdia Landing.
“Things in Mahdia really rough, imagine a pound beef is for $700, $800 per pound chicken, $800 per pound butterfish and even a pound ochro cost $400…It really hard for single mothers,” the woman stressed.

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Truckers fearful of traversing Linden to Lethem trail

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