Mud and dust pollution on the East Bank E’bo

Sep 25, 2018 Letters

Dear Editor,
We the residents, particularly those who are living along the roadway of East Bank Essequibo have been living with this dangerous issue for years. We complain but no one is hearing our voices.
During rice harvesting and rice land preparation times, we the residents and road users are put in a precarious situation of pollution along the East Bank Essequibo roadway, particularly from Vergenoegen to Orangestein.
Rice farmers are polluting our roadway with huge chunks of mud that their machines bring out from the backdam.When wet, the road becomes extra slippery and dangerous.
It’s very dangerous for other road users including school children, pedal cyclists, etc. Children and cyclists are sometimes forced to walk and ride in the middle of the road just so they can avoid slipping in the mud that coats the side of the road.
This puts them in a more dangerous position of being maimed or killed by a motor vehicle.
When dry, we are faced with a next problem… severe dust pollution. Not only do we have to wipe our windows, doors, etc. every day, but we have to be holed up like hermits in our home just to avoid the dust.
The dust is affecting our babies, our elderly, those who are suffering from severe allergies- it is affecting all of us.
When approached about this situation, rice farmers are quick to point out that they put food on our tables. It does not dawn on them that we pay for our rice.
They are quick to curse at us and ask where we want them to drive if not on the road.
I wish to point out that at every dam head there is a concrete floor for the sole purpose of washing off the mud from tractors and combines before attempting to drive on the road. I’m yet to see one rice farmer use that.
Either they are too lazy to get off their machines and take a wood and push off all the mud from their tyres or tracks before driving onto the road or they just don’t give a damn. Or maybe, they have been allowed for too long to continue with this nonsense that they don’t see the danger of their actions or don’t have no consideration for residents or other road users.Only last week, a resident was heading home with her three small kids in the car when another vehicle approaching from the opposite direction sent a clump of mud into her car side.
Upon inspection, she said there was a small but deep dent on her right rear fender.
Who should she look for compensation for that damage?
The rice farmers who are bringing out the mud from their back-dam in chunks, speeding to fling it on our roads, the other car or the silent chunk of mud?
In the nights, vehicles can be heard skidding and screeching just to avoid the huge lumps of mud left on our dark roadways.
These acts have cost many lives and injuries over the years but the farmers don’t take responsibilities.
Also, many of the tractors and combines on the roadways have little or no documentations…. some of the drivers are unlicensed. These machines have little or no lights or reflectors. When are the police going to step in?
We pay for our rice so please, farmers, don’t think that you are doing us a favor.
How hard is it for a rice farmer to get off his tractor or combine and take a piece of wood and push off the chunks of mud from his tracks or tyres before proceeding on the roadway?
Officers of the law, please enforce whatever rules and regulations there are to ensure these farmers comply in keeping our roads safe.
EPA please- this body has been silent for too long, please visit and see what we as residents on the East Bank of Essequibo have to go through with this dust.
When will someone listen to us?
Deeroop Mahadeo
Anna Singh
Mark Walcott
Liloutie Jagan
Suraj Persaud
And 15 others

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