East Bank Berbice road consultation…Residents demand transparency, accountability under new project

Jun 27, 2014 News

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Residents of East Bank Berbice (EBB) on Wednesday were unanimous in their call for transparency in relation to the

millions that will be spent to build a new EBB roadway and close supervision of the contractor. Rumours of a shutdown of the roadway and protest were in the air during the past few weeks as the current administration scrambled to engage residents in a discussion to quell their anger and frustration. There were numerous protests and road-shutdowns in the past.
A team from EXP Consulting Firm out of Ontario, Canada, as well as officials of the Ministry of Public Works engaged residents in an interactive discussion as to their needs and concerns about the new EBB 25-mile thoroughfare, which is scheduled to commence in October of this year. The foreign team, consisting of Canadians and Trinidadians listened attentively to the accusations of irate and aggravated residents and hire car operators of the corrupt practices of the present administration, especially as it relates to award, supervision and monitoring of road- building contractors. Residents were also highly concerned about getting value for money.
They vented their dissatisfaction about the dilapidated roadway which has been in the news on numerous occasions and the government’s neglect of the East Bank Berbice area over the years. No official from the Region Six Administration was present at the consultation meeting at the Edinburgh Primary School.
Some residents believe that the October deadline is a ploy by the current administration. They were very suspicious of the intended $60M to be spent and demanded accountability.
Samuel Mona, an East Bank Berbice resident, put forth the idea of a roadway away from the Berbice River. He proposed that the government cut a new highway so that overtopping of the river, flooding, etc. would not affect lives in the area.
“It will be worth your while to look at another area along this roadway to design your road, rather than looking at an existing road from Mara.”
Mark Green, of EXP, stated that as engineers, it is their obligation to provide a safe facility designed properly, “and we take our work seriously.” The team, he noted, has spent over three weeks in the area, traversing through the bumpy, crater-filled roadway up to the end, which is Mara, getting “a feel for the area” and assessing what has to be done.
“Safety is a priority for us and some of the features we will be looking at are appropriate lanes for two- way traffic; facilities that offer safety for pedestrians and cyclists, because it is a very diverse corridor.”

He also noted that they are looking at a wider roadway and building proper drainage structures. The weight of trucks and other heavy-duty equipment that utilize the road will also be taken into consideration before constructing the new roadway.
Ramesh Maraj, another prominent EBB resident, wants the consulting firm to consider in their designs, a widened roadway, especially at the numerous sharp turns at Bamboo Creek, etc. He also called for barriers to be built around those turns.
Another resident demanded that they know who will build the new road, “because some of them only want drawbacks!” “We ain’t looking for any contractor like that—we want neutral persons to come and get this road done! If you all are giving $60M, is the entire $60M need to be spent on the road—we ain’t want nobody on the side collecting!”
“This road here is the milking cow for the government! We are punishing and let me tell you something straight-up—-it is an embarrassment for another country (Canada) to come and see our plight here and

our government ain’t seeing it!” argued another EBB resident at the microphone.
Works Ministry representative, Kelvin Clarke told the gathering that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and not the government, is responsible “for the checks and balances of the project.”
Among other things called for in the new EBB roadway design are road lights, a proper sea- defence, road-markings and signs, a good foundation, culverts and proper bridges.
Residents alleged that remedial works along the roadway were a waste of the taxpayers’ monies and substandard material was used
Ms. Bernice Duncan, Social Engineer Specialist of EXP, then allowed the residents to form a Road U Group, comprising several residents who will be tasked to monitor the multi-million-dollar project. The funding is expected to come from the IDB, and a contractor is yet to be awarded the major contract.
Other members of the team included Grant Buote, Planning Technician; David Dennison, Environmental Engineer (EXP); Sheik Yusuf of Caribbean Engineering and Management Consultants (CEMCO); Bhesham Singh, CEMCO Engineer; Shawn Arm and Mark Green.

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