Dear Editor,
For the past five months users of the GT-Lethem road have suffered much hardship due to the deterioration of the road as a consequence of the extended rainy season. The worst stretches are Linden – Mabura and Annai – Lethem. It seems that no one in authority even offers a cursory glance of concern that the worst stretches of this road are close to towns and should, in principle, be the best maintained since it is most easily accessible. Presently, a light
vehicle takes between four to five hours traversing the 58 miles stretch of road from Linden to Mabura and four hours on the 60 miles stretch from Annai to Lethem. This works out to 12 – 15 miles per hour and oftentimes includes vehicles getting stuck in mud holes. Imagine in this day and age this is the hardships one must experience along one of the main roads of the country! We have patiently waited out the months of heavy rainfall knowing that it is very difficult to effect repairs to a laterite road in such weather. But with almost three weeks of uninterrupted sunshine and even a heatwave to aid quicker drying there is yet to be any movement towards fixing these stretches of road. Maybe the subject minister isn’t aware of the extent of damage on this road. I am urging that he conduct an in-person to get a firsthand experience of its condition. Alternatively, I urge the Ministry of Public Works to say when repairs to this road will commence. We deserve better!
Sincerely,
M. Allicock
