Latest update February 13th, 2025 8:56 AM
Latest News
- Despite not paying taxes, Exxon boss says profit sharing and royalty is same as giving Guyana tax
- ExxonMobil makes application for 8th oil project
- After Putin call, Trump says negotiations to end Ukraine war will start ‘immediately’
- Guyana captured by corrupt business and political elites
- First ever mammogram machine commissioned at Linden Hospital
Region Eight willfully neglected by Government – Regional Chairman
The deplorable Bartica/ Potaro Road in Region Eight, is yet to be repaired even though its importance was amplified in July 2012 when protestors shutdown Linden, preventing the flow of traffic in and out of the interior.
Mark Crawford
This is according to Mark Crawford, Region Eight Chairman, during a recent interview with this publication.
Crawford added that along the Bartica/ Potaro Road is the Cassandra Crossing Bridge (the Denham Suspension Bridge at Garraway Stream) which has been in need of repairs for numerous years. Miners and residents in neighbouring communities have been advocating for the stretch to be rehabilitated.
Following the protest in July 2012, government had acknowledged the need to repair the roadway. But, according to Crawford this is yet to materialize. He says he is not surprised though, since Government does not seem keen in providing Mahdia with key infrastructure such as roads, potable water and electricity.
According to Crawford, members of the ruling People’s Progressive Party have been traveling to the North Pakarimas spreading propaganda that the opposition parties in the National Assembly are responsible for the Region’s condition.
Crawford has dismissed this as an “untruth,” claiming that since the National Elections in 2011 when the majority of the residents voted for the Alliance For Change, Government has been unkind to that Region.
Crawford stressed that he is cognizant of the numerous troubles that exist in the Region but is unable to help since Government is holding back resources.
“We don’t handle resources…All revenue obtained from the Region goes to central Government and they give back what they want,” he said.
According to Crawford, Region Eight has 23 villages and seven settlements and only $28M was designated for road maintenance. This allocation included the Mahdia road, which is the highway to the villages in the North Pakarimas.
The Chairman stressed that the allocation was inadequate, adding that Government should have known it is costly to rehabilitate roads in the hinterland.
To ease the burden of Central Government in road repairs expenditure, Crawford said he had requested an excavator from Minister of Local Government, Ganga Persaud to no avail. He said the excavator would have helped tremendously in building roads in the North Pakarimas.
“How can we fix the problems in the communities if Government does not provide the resources?”
He stressed that for the past two years Region Eight has been stifled by Government even though it urgently needs funds to repair the Bartica/ Potaro Road and the Salbora Water System.
According to Crawford, Government needs to take the politics out of Region Eight and treat residents as citizens of Guyana. He described Mahdia as a ticking time bomb with residents at the boiling stage.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
An Open Letter to the election observer missions
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News-Later this year, you will arrive in Guyana as protectors of the integrity of our democracy.... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
