Dear Editor,
I write again on behalf of trees – those silent workhorses within our midst that toil (often thanklessly) every second of their existence to remove dangerous toxins from the environment and produce the oxygen necessary for human survival. This time it’s the stately rubber trees of Philbert Pierre Avenue, Mabaruma that are under siege. It is truly saddening that, a century after their planting by a son of that soil, some of the current residents of that community are agitating for their destruction in order to expand the roadway. I have read news articles reporting that the decision will be made by Mabaruma residents. While I respect local authorities and decision-making processes, I maintain that the fate of these trees is one that concerns the wider Guyanese community, not just the residents of central Mabaruma. The ‘Rubber Walk’ is a well-known tourist landmark of the area and unforgettable to all who have ever visited; even people who no longer live in Mabaruma retain fond memories and deep love for those trees. Evidence of this is in the fact that over two thousand people signed an online petition pleading for the rubber trees to be saved (see selected comments below). It would truly be a tragedy if these trees are destroyed; I urge that the sentiments of the petition signers be heeded. The fact is that there is an alternate road route that could be widened to facilitate more vehicular traffic without cutting these trees. In fact, the Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr. David Patterson, has stated on social media, that his ministry was actually not in favour of cutting down the trees and had submitted a proposal to the Mabaruma authorities to enable road expansion without destroying the trees. [“MoPI acknowledged the significance of these trees, and presented a program which did not affect the trees in any way..” – Facebook comment on Nov 18, 2019]. Surely the MoPI’s proposal is one to embrace since it has the backing of engineers and technical experts and will meet the community demand for a new road while simultaneously saving these trees. I urge the Mabaruma authorities and residents to demonstrate true environmental leadership and make the rest of their fellow Guyanese proud, and to heed the technical wisdom of Minister Patterson and his staff. It is also important, in my opinion, that funds be spent to hire professional tree pruners to prune the rubber trees to prevent dead or damaged branches from falling and causing harm to persons or property.
Selected comments of petition signatories:
● “Those trees are iconic. Been there for decades. Treat them as both heritage and endangered.”
● “Back in 2017 I visited Mabaruma for the first time and the sight truly captivated me. First time seeing trees so tall! It will certainly be a shame to have this scenic beauty destroyed.”
● “We need to plant more trees not cut them down.”
● “We need to save more trees as a country to help in the combat against Global Warming.”
● “Set o’ backwardness. Leave and nurture the trees. They are part of your natural patrimony.
● “I love the rubber trees. They make a visit to Mabaruma so special. They whisper lovely secrets all day long. Generations have had history with those trees. The air has benefitted from them. Pls don’t cut them down. Remember the tragedy of the teak trees in New Amsterdam.”
Yours faithfully,
Sherlina Nageer
