Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlall yesterday instructed the Mayor and Town Council of Mabaruma in Region One to halt the planned cutting of century-old rubber trees that line the Philbert Pierre Avenue.
After months of campaigning to save them, the rubber trees were to be brought down yesterday to facilitate the continuation of a road expansion project that has been stalled for over a year.
Several trees had already been cut down before Dharamlall intervened.
In a post on Facebook yesterday, Dharamlall said that it was brought to his attention that the Mabaruma Town Council had begun cutting down the trees and it was his understanding that the consultation done under the last administration had agreed for the trees to be cut. He said that he had since instructed the Mabaruma Town Council to stop the cutting and to publish the minutes of the consultation done under the last government with the names of persons participating.
In addition, he said, he said they are to approach the Ministry of Public Works (MoPW) to figure out a solution which will not result in the cutting down of the trees. In this regard Region One Chair-man Brentnol Ashley said that there is no space for development works away from the trees.
Following consultations with residents of Mabaruma in Region One, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) along with the Mabaruma Town Council had decided to remove the century-old rubber trees saying that the trees are a threat to the lives of residents and also infrastructure.
The decision made to cut down the trees was only made known to the public on Tuesday when the town council issued a statement advising residents that that the road would be closed to facilitate the cutting.
Approximately 101 rubber trees and a mango tree would’ve been chopped down had Dharamlall not intervened. It was expected by Mabaruma Mayor Chris Phang that within 7 to 14 days all the trees would have been removed giving the green light for road works to continue.
Ashley also told Stabroek News that the decision to have the trees removed was a decision made collectively by the RDC and Mabaruma Town Council after several consultations with residents who are of the opinion that the trees pose a threat to the lives of people and infrastructure close to the area.
“The trees on the Philbert Pierre Avenue are over 100 years old. Most of them, I could say about 99% are over 100 years old. And over the last decade or so we have been facing threat from the trees. The trees are a threat and danger to lives and infrastructure especially during the rainy season when we have heavy rain falls and heavy winds within the community,” he said before adding that residents have related near-death experiences whereby heavy branches from the trees fell either behind or before them when on the roadway. In addition, he stated that million-dollar fences and vehicles have also been destroyed by falling trees and branches.
Ashley acknowledged that while persons are petitioning not to have the trees removed, the decision to cut down them down was made in the interest of the people and were made by residents themselves. Adding to that, Ashley said that he knows that people are of the opinion that the trees are being cut because of the road project but this is far from the truth.
“Those trees pose a threat because of the age and this would’ve had to be done sooner or later,” he said yesterday, adding that residents have proposed to have artifacts made from the trees so that they can have a reminder of their existence.
Ashley revealed that another consultation will be held on Sunday so that residents can provide their opinion on the matter.
“While we note the opinions of the persons who are no longer living in Mabaruma or who would’ve visited Maba-ruma in the past, which we do appreciate but at the same time we have to make a decision that is in the best interest of the people and safety of the people of Mabaruma and that is why we want to go again to apply the democratic principle to which the PPP/C government stand to consult and hear from them about what they would like to see in the conclusion of the matter,” he said.
The renewed plan to cut down the trees resuscitated an online petition that was created over a year ago and persons are once again calling on the relevant authorities to ensure the trees are not cut.
“We, environmentally aware citizens of Guyana, are extremely alarmed at recent reports that the rubber trees of Philbert Pierre Avenue, Mabaruma, are under threat of being cut down in order to expand the roadway. This MUST NOT be allowed to happen,” the petition declared.
In an interview with Stabroek News in 2019, Phang related that over the years, residents of the town had made numerous attempts to plant rubber trees. All their attempts failed, so the only successful rubber-tree planting exercise is the one done by Pierre.
