Byderabo road getting attention after residents’ complaints
April 18, 2015 | By KNews | Filed Under News, Source
A new road is currently taking shape at Byderabo in Region Seven. The road is one that will provide an invaluable link between the Byderabo and the Bartica/Potaro roads which lead to the mining locale.
IMC Chairman, Ovid Benjamin points to the ongoing road project.
The project is being undertaken by the Neighbourhood Democratic Council/Interim Management Committee (NDC/IMC) of Bartica. But according to officials out of the NDC/IMC, this is not an elections gimmick and is therefore not being done to coincide with any electioneering campaign.
They are insisting that the project, which commenced about three weeks ago, will see about a quarter mile of thoroughfare gaining attention. The project is one that followed on the heels of the IMC’s collaboration with residents.
This publication understands that the access way has been near inaccessible for many years.
“Because of the complaints of the residents I came here and looked at the road and was able to observe that it would be economical to have a road here,” said IMC Chairman Ovid Benjamin.
In fact, he disclosed during an interview with this publication, that following a visit to the community recently “we really saw the need for a road too.”
He acknowledged that the road connecting to the Bartica/Potaro Road was merely an overgrowth track that people, particularly those within the immediate environs, found very difficult to access.
Based on the accounts of Byderabo residents they are forced to travel a three-mile distance from their community in order to get back to the Bartica/Potaro road because of the state of the thoroughfare.
Benjamin has observed too, that many residents have children who attend the Three Miles Secondary School and are therefore affected by the long travelling distance. With the road in place, Benjamin said that the distance is likely to be cut by at least 60 per cent. “This road will not only save time but money and fuel too,” asserted Benjamin.
Some Byderabo residents.
Thus far, the track has been graded and shaped, and according to the IMC Chairman it will be surfaced with crusher run. “We have already started the drains and we hope to complete it in about two week’s time,” Benjamin assured.
He informed too, that the project is not attracting an exorbitant cost, since the IMC is utilising equipment and machines owned by the NDC. Moreover “we are using our own labour and the Region is assisting with the cost for fuel.”
Benjamin is hopeful that works on the road will be completed long before the prolonged rainy season commences.
According to a resident of eight years in the Byderabo area, Anthony Khan, the road in its current graded state is already proving to be a great help to him. The young man who works in the mining area said that he can now use the road in order to reach the Bartica/Potaro road where he can easily board a truck heading to the interior.
And Jacqueline Pestano, also a resident, spoke of the many potholes and the over-priced taxi fares that residents had to pay ahead of the grading of the road. She is convinced that when completed, the road will be of even greater benefit. “The taxis will definitely have to cut their fares by 50 per cent,” said Pestano.
Her sentiments were mirrored by teacher of the Two Miles Primary School, Zoreena Kassim, who noted that she has two children attending nearby nursery and primary schools, as well as a sister who attends the Two Miles Secondary all of whom, like herself were forced to access the (former) track to reach their destinations. She is already calling the graded road a much improved thoroughfare that has made their journey easier. “Before the road was graded it was messy and when it rained it was worse… the children would slip and slide but now you can move through there within 10 minutes, they can run on this road now,” said a smiling Kassim.
The residents also recently benefited from the installation of street lamps which they claim have greatly improved the security of the environment at nights.