Residents of Moleson Creek, Corentyne have expressed disgust at the deplorable state of the Moleson Creek Road which is in such poor condition that even tractors have been stuck going along this roadway.
On a recent visit to the area by Stabroek News, residents in voicing their concerns about the road indicated that it becomes much worse whenever it rains.
The residents complained that they have been neglected by the government and while many promises were made to them nothing had been done to improve the condition of the road.
According to some residents, farmers who owned cane fields have contributed to the deterioration of the road by driving heavy duty vehicles along the roadway.
One of the residents said: “Them cane workers ah drive dem big big truck and damage up the road in the wet season and when dry season come them ah want $100,000, $60,000 and $70,000 fa mek the road and what they do just grade it, that’s all, we want di road mek so we ga pay the money.”
Another resident, Rahim, told Stabroek News that before the 2011 national elections, government officials had said they would get the road fixed.
He said: “We mek representation and form delegation and approached them (government officials) and all they tell us they gon make the road.”
He went on to say that it was very hard for the children to walk about a mile and a half to get to the Moleson Creek Primary School on a daily basis since the road is in a neglectful condition.
He also said that the children found it hard to get to school when it rained while on dry days adults would take the children to school on bicycles.
“Since meh born, this road was like, this nothing has been done to the road,” he added. It is his wish that the government would do something to help with the rehabilitation of the road since it is used daily.
Another resident, Chetram, told Stabroek News: “If them (government officials) mek half of the road for us to use and leave the other half for the cane farmers to use it would be better for us. You (talking to Stabroek News reporter) see the condition of this road if somebody sick how you gon carry them out? Dis road bad from the entrance.”
He continued: “We are Guyanese, this is Guyana, we are not living in another part of the world and this is how they are treating us.”
Chetram said they feel like refugees due to the treatment they are receiving from the government. “Watchman ah come with boots pon road and abbi gah come out barefoot,” he lamented.
Tractor stuck
According to another resident, some years ago an elderly women in the community died because the tractor that was taking her to the Skeldon Hospital got stuck on the road and it took some time to get another tractor. However, the woman died just hours after arriving at the hospital.
He went on to say that the poor state of the road makes it very hard for them to have access to goods and services. “We are tired of appealing with the government, they are only making promises,” he said.
A plantain farmer told this newspaper that it is very difficult for him to take out his produce to the public road. “Dis road very bad… sometime tractor get stuck in the road while meh carry meh goods,” he said. He also noted: “We need a proper road at least for the children to go to school.”
Two senior citizens said that it was very hard for them to utilize the road. One of the senior citizens said that “it is very bad… you get mud all over the road, when yuh gah fa go out the market and do business yuh ga get a stick and walk slow, slow… when yuh a comeback with yuh goods yuh pray somebody deh at the entrance with a tractor fa help bring you back in.”
She added that she wished that she could go for an ice cream but because of the state of the road she cannot venture out to have one.
An elderly man who lived in the area for more than fifteen years said that it is a struggle for him to make use of the road. He said: “Dat road very bad, ya punish meh… when meh walk meh ga take meh time before meh fall down… sometimes mud deh till at yuh thigh… so meh ah punish bad-bad fa go out and come in.”
Stabroek News caught up with a mother who has children going to school. She said that her children are at times unable to go to school, especially when the rain falls. She added that everybody who resides in the area and uses the road suffers greatly, particularly when they have to go out to the market and take the children to school. The mother added that whenever a sick person is in the area the person suffers further because of the condition of the road.
Meanwhile, residents of the Moleson Creek Road also noted that the area has no electricity, water, or recreational facilities for the young ones. On many occasions, they said that they went to the Guyana Water Incorporated but they were told to apply for water service. Rahim who was part of the delegation to the GWI said that when he had requested a standpipe to be at the entrance of the road he was told they have to apply for it.
Another resident told this newspaper that on several occasions they had put requests to the former Regional Chairman, Zulfikar Mustapha, for a bus shed to be erected at the entrance of the road. The resident related that they were promised one but to this day nothing of the sort has been erected.
One of the concerned residents said that there is no particular arrangement to cleanup at the school and bushes usually take over. However, parents do chip in and assist in getting the school cleaned to avoid bushes taking over. He also observed that the school needs a security guard but because of the risks posed due to lack of electricity in the area no one wanted to apply for the job.
Meanwhile, residents highlighted that no government official had ever visited the area to listen to their concerns. The residents are calling now on the Minister of Public Works and the President of Guyana to visit and render assistance to the area.
