This week we asked Lindeners to comment on the state of the roads in their various communities. Their comments follow:
Kim Jonas, community health worker – ‘I have to travel every day to work and the roads are terrible. Basically the roads starting from Watooka Hill Top to Coomacka Mines where I work as a community health worker and have to travel every day don’t have potholes, they have basin holes. Right now I have a hip pain and a back pain and I know it’s because of the roads. I think the government should look into the roads especially the roads in the mines. I’m going to stress on the roads in the mines because of the children, the elderly and the pregnant women. Ambulances don’t go up there and should we have an emergency you have to put them in public transportation which is very scary because of the state of the road and it makes it costly to have people travel to and from the mines. Government really needs to take a look and the other relevant authorities. Personally I would like to see something done on the roads as soon as possible. I’m glad for the opportunity to express my feelings about this issue, really glad.’
Manuel Barnwell, businessman – ‘The roads in Linden especially those going to Richmond Hill are in a dire state for a very long time and the relevant authorities are ignoring it! It seems to be a cry on deaf ears.’
Kevon Claxton, sales representative – ‘Initially I think that the government is responsible for the fixing the roads but I think after a while, if it’s not being done residents should take up the responsibility. Because at the end of it all we’re the ones that have to be traversing it every day. Yes, it’s their responsibility but if nothing’s happening then we should do it ourselves.’
Kerry Langhorne, student – ‘The condition of the roads around the Linden community is causing residents stress. As a driver I constantly have to be changing tyres and car parts. Parts that are expected to last a year are lasting you a quarter or half that time. I think the roads are preventing progress and are discouraging people who have a positive interest in the community from contributing towards development. Residents from various communities around Linden have tried different forms of patch work to help solved this problem but the results are often short lived. Access to these areas should be restricted by the people who dwell there
until quality work could be done.’
Almira Millington, manager – ‘Just yesterday I heard someone make a comment on the roads in Linden. The individual, who is no Lindener said `like all the roads in Linden bad man.’ If one individual who came to our town for just a short time could be alarmed and frustrated at the disrepair of our road, then you can understand just how frustrated Lindeners are. In some area, you are still forced to drive in sand tracks and some taxi drivers refuse to go to these areas for fear of being stuck. And in some areas the dirt roads prove to be a nuisance to home owners when vehicles pass by blowing red dust everywhere even on pedestrians. The areas that have asphalt roads, the swimming pools (not potholes) are numerous. It is my honest opinion that Linden is the outcast of this country’s government. They have made it clear that they do not care about the residents of Linden, so why should they be bothered with the state of our roads which we traverse day after day, but this is just one of the areas in which we, the residents of Linden are made to suffer.’
Del Kassim, sales representative – ‘The roads are terrible in Linden, especially around the area I live. Since how long you keep hearing how they coming to pave our roads. Where I live it’s bare sand and sometimes vehicles come through there and get stuck and you have to go and help push them out. The government and relevant authorities really need to look into this and do something as soon as possible because it’s overbearing. Driving in Linden sends up your pressure and when you get high blood pressure you have to go to the hospital and to reach there is another bad road so when you reach is just in time for them to revive you. There are no good roads in Linden.’
Shanice Louis, unemployed – ‘Well the roads in linden have been bad for years now and I don’t see anyone trying to fix them, especially the roads in Wismar, Kara Kara, Main Street, Amelia’s Ward and the hospital road going to Richmond Hill. Also the road for the heavy duty vehicles to traverse is worse and this prompts them to use the normal roads and damage them even more. I think the government or even the people of Linden should look into this situation because the roads are damaging people’s vehicles and persons providing transportation refuse to run in certain areas. It also isn’t attractive and we can do much better than that.’
Trisha DeCosta, accountant – ‘Especially in my area, deplorable would be a step up to what the roads are. We are plagued with craters across the road and getting our kids to school is expensive and dangerous because it destroys our vehicle. It saddens me to say that there is no foreseeable solution to this problem because this is something we have been plagued with for years and even when some renovations are done to the roads they are usually paper thin and a temporary solution to a major problem.’
Timothy Fredricks, student – ‘The roads in Linden are in such a state that it’s encouraging for a pregnant woman to lose her baby. Yes the government is building roads but the roads aren’t durable. Today it built and tomorrow either the corners start erode or potholes start multiplying which turn pools when it rains. This proves how cheaply the roads are being built. Take for instance Lovers Lane, Amelia’s Ward, after the fourth corner the road is in such a bad state even cyclists get confused over which part of the road to use. If the government is building roads I suggest they ensure the roads are durable because it makes no sense building a road now and tomorrow it’s just how it used to be. I see places in Guyana that have very strong looking roads, well Linden is a part of Guyana too so I don’t find any reason why strong roads can’t be built here too.’
Renee Adams, unemployed – ‘I think that something should really be done about the roads in Linden because they are really terrible. Everywhere you walk is a pothole or something and the government and relevant authorities need to step up and do something about this, and if the government doesn’t do anything soon I think we as a town should come together and fix this problem.’
