There is a growing frustration among residents of Mahdia over the lack of basic services in the Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) community. There are no banks, ATMs, Guyana Revenue Authority branch, or insurance company forcing residents to travel long distances to access these services.
Many residents, particularly those involved in small-scale mining, voiced their frustrations to this newspaper during a recent visit to the area. Locals complained that they have to leave Mahdia for almost any official business, adding significant financial and logistical burdens to their daily lives.
One concern raised by many residents is the lack of facilities for obtaining a driver’s licence. One woman, who asked not to be named, said: “I got a scooter to get about the place and it’s like I’m working to pay the police. The police know I don’t have a licence, and every time they stop me, they collect my bike, telling me I must pay $40,000. After I pay, they give me the bike back, but when they want money again, they stop me again.”
