A protest by striking minibus operators at Bartica is expected to continue today and residents are expected to join a picket outside the offices of the regional administration this morning.
Minibus operators at the community parked their buses on Monday to protest the state of the Potaro Road, leaving travellers in the area with little or no alternatives to venture in or out of Bartica.
Spokesperson for the minibus operators Micah Williams told Stabroek News yesterday that members of the United Minibus Union—the umbrella body to which the minibus operators at Bartica are associated—has supported the strike and he noted that a meeting was held yesterday between the operators’ representatives in the region and the regional authorities.
He said, however, that despite assurances given by Regional Executive Officer (REO) Peter Ramotar about temporary works being undertaken to the road, nothing was given in writing to assure that the road will be rehabilitated.
“We told them what we want them to do because is years now these roads like this,” Williams said. He added that the drivers are demanding that the Potaro Road be widened by an extra six feet (three feet on both sides), drains be dug on both sides to carry off excess water during rainy weather. This newspaper understands that a team of officials from the Ministry of Transport is expected in the area tomorrow to carry out an assessment of the road.
Early last month over 200 residents of Bartica dug a ditch across the Potaro Road over its deteriorating state, which has worsened with increased traffic as a result of the protest which was on-going at the mining town of Linden.
The residents noted at the time that there was no budgetary allocation this year for the repair of the road and with the increased traffic—consisting of mostly huge trucks—the state of the road deteriorated.
Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon said yesterday that the situation was based on the actions of “ill-advised” residents. The residents “in a variety of ways have made the actions by the Work Services Group and the Public Works Ministry even more difficult than it would ordinarily be,” he added.
Meanwhile, this newspaper was told that residents have also voiced their displeasure at the state of the water supply, including the discoloration of the water as well as long periods without water.
