Dear Editor,
This is an open invitation to the Minister of Public Works, other subject Ministers, Public Works Engineers, Clerks, the President, VP. It’s an invitation to spend a night or part of a night in any house along the Central Corentyne Highway, particularly at Bush Lot or Kildonan. You are invited to experience what locals have to endure every day. Day or night it matters not. But the nights are more terrifying. Sleep no longer comes easy in Corentyne, East Berbice. The sound of heavily laden trucks driven at breakneck speed reverberates and jolts you out of your stupor.
Travelling at speed beyond what is allowed or safe they hit the 2” high ridge where the new asphalt lays over the old paving and the whole village hears and feels it. The houses shake and vibrate from the foundations to the roof. The windows and doors rattle, and the beds comes alive. Most times it feels as if the trucks are crashing through the bedroom. Other times, it’s as if a tremor or earthquake has hit the area with cracks opening up on the concrete walls and floor.
The increase of trucks and the frequency of their runs, has exacerbated the situation. It has gotten from bad to worse. Notwithstanding the noise from the vibrations, the shuddering, the clanging of unsecured trays and doors, the indiscriminate blaring of horns at all hours makes it all the more unbearable. The unbroken sleep, the peaceful rest in rural Corentyne is a thing of the past. The pace of progress has a price. It takes a toll on the physical and emotional well-being of citizens. Some say it’s transformation for the good others aver that it’s political expediency.
Regardless, the cost is too high. The decrease in quality of life, the damage to property, the stress, the detrimental effects to health and wellness are unacceptable. Something has to be done! This is what shoddy patch work repair obtains. Contractors do their jobs and it’s the responsibility of the Engineers, Clerks and Civil inspectors to approve of the finished products.
Clearly the standards are … substandard! Someone needs to be fired! Complaints to the subject authorities, ministries and agencies goes unanswered. There are no acknowledgements and no responses.
Hopefully, this invitation will be acknowledged, responded to and accepted. As morbid as it may be, it would be a pleasure being a gracious host watching over while you try to endure a night or part thereof with trucks barreling in your head and running through your sleep.