Lima Sands residents concerned about poor road construction

Mar 16, 2018 News

Residents of the Lima Sands community on the Essequibo Coast, continue to express their dissatisfaction at the manner in which an integral road in their community is being constructed.
Lima Sands is a small Amerindian community located about just five miles inland from Anna Regina, on the Essequibo Coast. It presently has a population of about 300.
The road under construction is one which runs through the community from north to south. This road will also grant access to the Lima Sands backlands. Since the community eventually leads to the backlands, heavy machinery such as tractors and trucks frequently make use the road for logging and farming.
Residents are concerned, however, that the road under construction is too narrow and the building material used to reinforce the shoulders is inferior.

The road in question

The matter recently engaged the attention of the RegionTwo Democratic Council, during its statutory meeting last Tuesday. At this meeting, an RDC councilor said that the material used on the road shoulder, is a mixture of sand and loam. Residents believe that they have been cheated as Guyanese citizens, and that they deserve a durable road that could withstand pressure and conditions for years to come.
In the meantime, the Regional Chairman of Region Two, Devenand Ramdatt, is contending that residents and beneficiaries must be consulted before the implementation of projects. Ramdatt added, “There was no consultation with the project beneficiaries and this may be the main reason why the project is poorly designed… Consultation on the other hand would achieve proper project designs.”
The REO of Region Two, Rupert Hopkinson, told this publication earlier last month, that he is committed towards promoting accountability through consultations. Ramdatt claims, however, that despite recommendations offered by the RDC, the need for enhanced transparency and accountability still exists.
The Chairman indicated that relevant details, bill of quantities and designs of Projects must be accessible to residents of the area where projects are to be done.
He added, “Strong monitoring of projects must be conducted by Engineers, technical staff and Works Committee members.”
In addressing the matter, Ramdatt said that he recently mandated the Works Committee, to urgently inspect this project and provide a report. He also noted the REO Hopkinson has failed to intervene despite being written to the matter. [Romario Blair.]

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