Main access to Kamwatta Hill blocked by stuck truck

The main road to access Kamwatta Hill, at Mabaruma, in Region One, has been blocked for over five days after a truck owned by a contractor for the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), which was carrying a rig, got stuck on the thoroughfare.

Henry Morris, Toshao of the village, yesterday told Stabroek News that the blockage has restricted movement to and from the village.

He related that the village council has to use an alternative route, which is located two miles away from the main road, to transport persons who are in need of medical attention. From this location, residents will be able to access public transportation. Explaining the issue, Morris said the truck, carrying the rig, had finished drilling water wells in his village and was on its way to the neighbouring community, White Creek.

The village chief related that one of the main bridges in the community is currently being reconstructed and, as result, a bypass was created for residents to use temporarily. Given the situation, Morris said, residents advised the contractor to use an alternative route to prevent a mishap on the by-pass.

“The next route needed some rehabilitative work but could have been used to transport the machinery to White Creek. I don’t know why they didn’t use that route,” he said.

The contractor, the toshao said, did not follow their advice. “They didn’t take our advice and use the by-pass and as the truck was going across, the back wheel slipped off. The truck behind it is also stuck on the roadway because it cannot be moved,” Morris explained.

Since Sunday last, the community has been cut off from access to public transportation, the market and health services.

“We have patients in the community with vomiting and diarrhea and others who have to go for checkups and those who are coming home from the hospital but they cannot come through the main road because it is blocked up,” he lamented.

Morris said contact has been made with the regional authorities and they were informed of the issue but nothing has been done to assist the villagers.

Contacted, Public Relations Officer at GWI, Leana Bradshaw, yesterday said that efforts are being made to mobilise a backhoe to help move the stuck truck. She said that efforts were made to remove the truck earlier in the week using a mini excavator but they were unsuccessful.

She added that information fed to her by workers on the ground indicated that they were working to remove the stuck truck from the road by tonight.