The Ministry of Public Works and Communication’s demolition campaign has resulted in a reduction of the number of illegal structures on state reserves, which are considered hazards to traffic safety.

Ministry Maintenance Engineer Phillip Bryan is quoted in a Government Information Agency (GINA) news release as saying that progress of the campaign could be measured by sensitisation and recurrences. He noted that the number of structures on government reserves has reduced and the cycle of rebuilding them has lessened. Bryan pointed out that this is significant, since structures that have been demolished would, on occasion, be rebuilt as soon as the day after demolition. Bryan said this new trend indicates that the public is familiarising itself with the campaign and can appreciate its physical and aesthetic benefits.

According to Bryan, much progress has been made on the East Bank, East Coast and West Coast Demerara, although more work is still to be done in all three districts. “On the East Bank Demerara there are some big structures that will be demolished soon including a roof belonging to Gafoors, Land of Canaan and the Two Brothers Gas Station’s 60 foot canteen which in on state drainage reserves also at Land of Canaan,” he said.

Bryan also said there are currently 20 structures on the East Coast Demerara that will be demolished within one month. The ministry is approaching the demolition exercise in a systematic manner, focusing first on eight wooden structures and then 12 metal structures, the statement said.

Demolition exercises were conducted on the West Coast Demerara but some works remain incomplete as several structures had electrical installations and these would first have to be removed. Bryan noted that the campaign will revisit the area to ensure that the encumbrances are removed. He also said the exercise is being expedited in New Amsterdam, Rose Hall and Canje, Berbice, Region Six.

According to GINA, the ministry also intends to remove persons including commercial squatters, from within the one-mile radius of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. These persons will be relocated adjacent to the airport’s maintenance shop.

GINA said that the ministry is still in “the designing and planning stage” regarding the squatters as it is designing a suitable cubicle for the squatters as well as a model of what the area should look like on its completion.