$10M road starts to crumble days after construction

Even as the Ramotar Administration continues to talk about value for money, residents of Den Amstel

A section of the road which has already started to crumble.

and De Kinderen, West Coast Demerara, are complaining that the government is splurging funds and reaping nothing but substandard work. At Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara, there’s a $10M road leading up to the community koker which according to a Neighbourhood Democratic councilor, is already falling apart. The project was awarded by the Regional Democratic Council. When Kaieteur News visited the area last week residents said that a contractor from Berbice completed the road within two days. The road, according to the councilor, is no more than an inch thick. There is no edging on the road and the heavy duty machines that traverse have caused a “break-way”.  Kaieteur News was told that the entire project has been shrouded in secrecy. Several attempts to obtain the “Bill of quantities” from the officials were always blocked by excuses. “Government spend ten million on a road that build in two days and it start to break up already,” one resident told Kaieteur News. Efforts to contact officials from the RDC proved futile. Meanwhile, in nearby Meten-Meer-Zorg, residents have been left without a sturdy bridge which would allow them to easily enter and exit their area through the adjacent De Kinderen village. Kaieteur News was told that the bridge would be utilized mainly by school children whose schools are located in De Kinderen. According to residents, the bridge began to deteriorate in early February 2011, and both the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) were notified that speedy repairs were necessary. Kaieteur News was further told that it wasn’t until late March 2011 after heavy flooding that Regional Chairman,

Boeraserie East Bank Essequibo RDC spends one million dollar to build this toilet.

Julius Faerber, and members of the NDC paid the area a visit. They then witnessed the further deterioration of the bridge and subsequently dismantled the remaining structure with promises to rebuild a new bridge within a short period of time. It is now three years, and residents are still without a bridge in the community. This newspaper was told that the National Assembly through the Ministry of Public Works had voted for the bridge to be repaired. But nothing has been done and residents are unaware when the works would commence. Residents in Boeraserie Housing Scheme complained to Kaieteur News bitterly about flooding in the area also. Kaieteur News was told that the scheme which consists of about 32 homes has no proper drainage.  Residents said that they would clean the “small drains” in the area, but that isn’t enough.  According to Colbert Leander, who is the Vice Chairman of the scheme, residents are deprived of most services other neighbouring communities enjoy. He explained that the last thing that the RDC did for the community was build a “toilet” on a play field at a cost of $1M. Leander said that the community has few street lights and roads are in need of repair.