Region in the dark over delay in Lethem to Annai road works...

maintenance done in hopes of bringing some relief to drivers, however he was uncertain of when the work will actually commence.

“I am not sure when the real works will begin because no one is telling us anything. The works that were done were just emergency works to fill potholes and so, it was not done as part of the works that contracts were signed for,” the Regional Chairman said.

“The government says they have all this money to pump into fixing these roads but we aren’t seeing anything being done apart from the emergency works. Rain today and it’s as though we have gone all the way back to square one again with the roads,” he added.

In addition to the roads, drivers are also calling on the authorities to look into the rehabilitation of several interior bridges along the trail, specifically those that fall between Kurupukari and an area known as Frenchman’s Junction.

One driver who spoke to Stabroek News explained that persons traversing that area are forced to contend with a bridge that has since been reduced to two pieces of timber. “It’s getting worse now because it very dangerous for us as drivers,” he added.

Stabroek News had reported that six contracts valued over $650 million, were awarded to contractors in May for maintenance of the Rockstone-Mabura, Kurupukari-Annai-Lethem and the Linden-Ituni-Kwakwani roads.

The Ministry of Natural Resources had announced that it would be embarking on the road improvement projects with support from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

It was noted that the roads for repair were identified following discussions with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association, miners and forest operators, who had reportedly explained that the condition of the roads was an impediment to their production efforts and, therefore, was increasing the cost of transporting supplies in and out of the interior.

Further to this, it was reported that maintenance works for the Lethem to Annai road should have started within the first week of June, if the weather permitted, while continuation of the section of road from Annai to Kurupukari was expected to begin in the final week of May.

The $139.3 million contract for the Lethem to Annai road works were awarded to D&R Construction and Machinery Rental. The ministry also noted that the contract for the continuation of the road between Annai and Kurupukari was awarded to MMC Inc. and the work was scheduled to commence in the final week of May.