Dear Editor,
I just read an article on demerarawaves which quoted Minister Benn as suggesting that tolls will be charged for the use of roads and or bridges in the Rupununi during the rainy season. Editor, I am never amused by the stupidity of this particular minister of government. This has got to be the most stupid declaration of the decade. I would like to refer to it as the Moco Moco Declaration.
In 2010 when the road at Hunt Oil Stretch was under siege, Mr. Benn was on site directing the ‘show.’ At that time I was a part-time reporter with Stabroek News. Having intimate knowledge of the bridge construction issues in the Region, I asked the minister what plans were afoot to ensure that we move from five-tonne bridges to more sturdy bridges.
The minister got on his high horse and berated Stabroek News. Not too long after we had a fatality when a truck literally fell through one of the fortified bridges and caused the life of a young man to be snuffed out.
Ever since, we have had many accidents as a result of faulty bridges. We have also had incidents of bridges being washed away in the rainy seasons. This begs the need to have more sturdy bridges. In 1998, while still an officer of the Regional Democratic Council, Region 9, I suggested that we build at least one concrete bridge a year. This idea was laughed at by a then senior official. His concern at the time was if these bridges were to be built, then over time there would have been no need for the contractors and that the trade would die a natural death. Well we have the results of this lack of vision.
This is a yearly ritual: build a bridge and within 18 months remedial works are necessary. This kind of sloppy planning ensures that there is always work for the boys.
It is a known fact that the Moco Moco Creek is a fast flowing one in the rainy season, and as such consideration should have been given to the issue of erosion of the creek bed. The foundation should have been constructed deep into the creek bed. Even if there was erosion it would have been more gradual. As it is the foundation was constructed on the surface of the creek bed.
I would like to reiterate my call for concrete bridges to be constructed to replace the dangerous, and most times, ill-constructed wooden ones. The suggestion that development must be suspended because of inclement weather is most absurd of the minister.
On the issue of tolls, the people of Rupununi are already heavily taxed and it is a serious dereliction of duty that the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) has not come out and condemned this irresponsible and stupid suggestion.
A truck leaving Georgetown is taxed as follows: $3,000 to cross the Wismar/Mackenzie Bridge; $5,000 to pass through the Mabura Concession; $15,000 to cross on the Mekdeci pontoon at Kurupukari. What other taxes is the minister talking about? These paid taxes have not improved the condition of the roads, which result in heavy maintenance costs to these vehicles.
The minister should be aware that the imposition of any new taxes will be passed on to the customer, thus making life here more expensive. The answer therefore is not more taxation, but more carefully designed structures and a paved road from Linden to Lethem.
Maybe he can start with a concrete structure across the now damaged bridge.
Yours faithfully,
Carl Parker
Regional Councillor
