Gov’t must be commended for installing these elevators

Dear Editor,

This is in reference to the letter by Charles Sohan (Stabroek News, October 7, 2019, `Elevators on East Bank overpasses will prove to be a costly error of judgement’). In my view Government must be commended for its decision to install these elevators in recognition of the provisions of the national disability act.

The primary purpose of these elevators is to allow disabled persons and/or persons with limited mobility to access the levels of the overpasses. In the past, access to buildings and other structures by the disabled was not a prominent feature in our construction guidelines. It is certainly worthy to note that these provisions are now part of our construction milieu.

Editor, from my casual observation, the elevators in question are singlereach, one-storey, and of slow speed. They are to be operated by attendants. They are unlike the fast moving, automatic elevators used in multi-storeyed, high-rise buildings and skyscrapers. The maintenance and operation of the installed elevators are not of the complexity and high standards required of high speed, multi-storeyed elevators. The simplicity in their maintenance and operation cannot be beyond the skills of trained Guyanese technicians. To cater for failures in electricity supply a suitably sized generator, preferably with an automatic control switch, can be installed. Surely, systems can be put in place to deal with theft and vandalism within this small area.

The Government owes the public an explanation if, indeed, the project is beyond the scheduled completion date and has experienced cost overruns. However, these lapses do not negate the value of the service to the disabled.

Yours faithfully, Abraham David