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Deplorable Port Kaituma roads attract more protests
Craters like this one have prompted protest action from irate residents of Port Kaituma
There is a strongly held belief that only protest will get the government to fulfill its mandate to the people.
This principle was manifested in the Port Kaituma District yesterday as scores of residents took matters into their own hands and blocked a major artery to press their demand for better roads.
In some cases the roads are almost impassable, with craters ranging from 12 to 18 inches in depth.
And with the remoteness of the area, accessing vehicle spares to replace those that are constantly being damaged, is becoming more of a burden and expense.
The area’s inhabitants are convinced that they are being deceived by officials within the Ministry of Public Works, who they say keep making empty promises.
From as early as 06:00 hours, the residents used several large objects to effectively shut-off traffic to and from the gold mining backlands, as well as the Port Kaituma Airstrip.
According to one resident, officials of the Interim Management Committee, that oversees the district, had informed that money was allocated for repairs to the road, but to date no work has started.
Kaieteur News understands that no contractor has been identified to carry out the work, leading to greater anxiety among the residents with regards to prolonged hardship they will have to endure.
The residents became even angrier when they tried contacting a senior Ministry of Works official, only to have him deliberately turn off his cellular phone.
Port Kaituma residents say that while they will relax and allow vehicles for the essential services to operate, they will be upping the ante to ensure that their demands are met with a speedy resolution.
This newspaper tried unsuccessfully to contact Works Minister Robeson Benn and his Permanent Secretary.
However Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon at his weekly press briefing told journalists that over the past two to three weeks, hinterland roads and their rehabilitation have been a matter that was high on the agenda, both at the level of the President and his weekly meetings with his Sector Ministers.
Luncheon took the opportunity to address to some extent the Port Kaituma issue as well as the road in Bartica which also saw protest actions, aimed at forcing speedy attention.
He said that the Works Minister had provided Cabinet with evidence that there was some setback with regards to design and to a greater extent the weather, with specific reference to the road in Bartica.
“I think the situation has been a bit complicated by the actions of ill-advised residents who have ditched the road, and in a variety of ways, have made the actions by the Works Services Group and the Public Works Ministry even more difficult than it ordinarily would be,” Dr. Luncheon said.
He explained that in Port Kaituma, Minister Benn conceded that the road there needs urgent significant rehabilitation and Cabinet was assured that the public works Ministry was attending to it.
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