Dear Editor,
On Tuesday 16th November, I travelled on a minibus from Utivlugt to Vreed-en-Hoop, then via speed boat to Georgetown, and finally with another minibus to Providence. Incredibly, my journey started from around 7:43 am and finished about 9:30 am without me stopping anywhere. Out of fear of being caught in the traffic congestion at the Demerara Habour Bridge, I chose the route which lasted just around two hours. Because most people are journeying in the opposite direction, mainly to work or conduct business, I presumed my trip would be smoother and faster. Painfully it was not, and thinking about those going to work, the time they would eventually reach, what they would have to face from their superior, I just felt very angry at our government, who was entrusted with the responsibility to manage our beautiful Guyana to make life comfortable for us, but seemingly, only they are living a comfortable life.
Editor, traffic congestion is responsible for the majority of commuters’ woes. And whilst the government continues to establish housing schemes, they are failing miserably to provide proper roadways to relieve us from the daily traffic congestion. Despite much promises, I have not seen any government plan for the development of our roadways to ease this burden, and even though works are currently underway, that has not convinced me that it would ease the congestion, because all the plans are showing flat roads with no overpass to allow for a smooth flow of traffic. Instead, what we are seeing are schemes being built and bottleneck roads constructed whilst existing schemes are already having serious traffic problems, causing Guyanese to be seriously affected by traffic congestion almost everywhere you turn.
Finally, Editor, hints kept popping up about a more modernized harbour bridge; incredibly, the nation was surprised when Mr. Jagdeo announced that a Chinese company was awarded the contract and they are the best he could find. This is a former president, who was always present in Guyana to witness the awarding of contracts to Chinese contractors who failed repeatedly to deliver. Extensions after extensions were granted, and additional money was requested. The Skeldon Factory, Cheddi Jagan International Airport, and Mandela Ave/Sheriff Street just to name a few have been extended, in some cases twice longer than the work was estimated to be completed. Now, Guyana desperately needs a more modernized harbour bridge, and given the Chinese track record in Guyana, they were still given preference. Is it because they are lending us the money, which comes with a cost? I have no doubt that they will be forced to complete the bridge before the next general elections to buy votes, but if they the Chinese, cannot complete a road in five years, are we to trust them to complete such a vital project as scheduled and still expect to be safe?
Sincerely,
Sahadeo Bates
