Govt. to remove all shops, bars, paddy-drying, other encumbrances from East Bank main road

The Ministry of Public Works has launched an aggressive campaign to remove all shops, bars and other encumbrances from along the East Bank of Demerara passageways to the main access road. According to a notice publicized by the Ministry Saturday, the move is in keeping with its mandate to enforce Section 29 of the Road Act Cap. 51:01of the Laws of Guyana.

The campaign, which is expected to commence today, called on the general public particularly violators to remove all encumbrances before the work commences. The Ministry noted that, “all encumbrances found on the government’s reserve during this campaign will be removed immediately with a recovery cost attached.” Among the items identified by the Ministry as encumbrances along the main access road are derelict vehicles/equipment; immovable vehicles, hardware stores, barbershops, rum shops and bars; builders waste; roadside shop, car parks, sawmills, cargo containers, scrap iron dealer, clay stock pile/heap; sand/stone heap; structure; mobile vending cart; tyre servicing structures; muddumping workshop; non-derelict concrete mixing (road); none approved signboard and paddy drying.

The announcement by the Ministry comes months after Kaieteur News highlighted a similar issue involving a tyre shop located at Agricola, East Bank Demerara. As a result, complaints from residents due to the congestion, the tyre shop issue had reached the level of the Public Works Ministry as well as the Mayor and City Council. Residents complained that too often vehicles (including ‘bush’ trucks) were parked alongside the tyre shop, hindering the smooth commute of traffic and pedestrians, including students. The public road provides for double-lane traffic, but vehicles are forced to form a single lane when approaching the tyre shop at Agricola, at the eastern carriageway. This problem is said to particularly acute on weekdays. Along the East Bank especially, there has been a springing up of roadside stands, selling greens, bread, coconuts and even trucks selling from barbecues to burgers to chicken and duck by the pound. There are also several dog food vendors along the way.

(Kaieteur News)