The Ministry of Public Works has embarked on a project to shape the shoulders of roads it repaved last year in order to mitigate flooding in Georgetown and its environs but some residents are unhappy with the way it is being done.
Personnel attached to the Ministry’s Roads Division told Stabroek News yesterday at one of the project sites between Laluni and Crown streets, Queenstown that they were also working at other locations around Georgetown including Mandela Avenue and Vlissengen Road in the vicinity of the Botanical Gardens.
It was mentioned that during periods of heavy rainfall water accumulates on the roads leading to their rapid deterioration. In an effort to cure this problem the Ministry has decided to shape the shoulders of the roads it recently completed rehabilitating. The staff member also noted that at a later date they would return to clear the drains.
Residents were generally appreciative of the work being done but pointed out that the drains also need urgent cleaning as when the water runs off the road the drains would overflow.
Chairman of the Queenstown Community Group, Ovid Holder said he considers what the Ministry is doing ‘stealing’. He told Stabroek News while observing the workmen, “I spent loads of money keeping the parapet clean”, and now the authorities have decided to destroy it ostensibly to allow for water to run off the road. However, he said the parapet was prepared with inlets to allow for water to run off into the drain.
He was of the opinion that the Public Works Ministry was now in a hurry to build up ‘Lovers Lane’ on the seawall in time for world cup cricket so they were therefore ‘stealing’ dirt from his parapet when they should be clearing the drains and alleyways and using the dirt from such projects to build up the area around the seawall. He said he would not be maintaining the parapets anymore.
Holder also queried how the Mayor and City Council never has the money to do the work but now the Ministry was doing it, adding “they must have saved the money”. He further pointed out that during the wet season persons would use the shoulders of the road to walk on when water accumulated on the roads.
Another Crown Street resident, Roger said the Ministry was doing a good job but at the same time they were clearing the shoulders the dirt was being pushed into the drains. Consequently he wondered, “Who’s going to clear the drains? Without clearing the drains it’s back to stage one.”
Laluni Street resident Linden Farrel was simply in praise of the work saying he thought the men were doing “a great job”.
