A vote of thanks for the East Bank road project

Dear Editor,

On initial observation, I had limited exposure to the reality of constructing a highway while it was being utilized by the public. I observed teams of people working at different locations in the daytime, wearing reflective clothing labeled CRBC on East Bank Road. I drove past them without much thought and continued my daily life.

On closer inspection, I was able to observe the interaction between the Chinese construction teams, supervisory company Sheladia, Guyana Traffic Police, and the Ministry of Public Works^[1]. Each team was made up of qualified professionals with many years of experience; however, the acknowledgment among all teams was that this was a project that was especially difficult. In fact, this project can be considered the most challenging one that has ever been undertaken in Guyana due to its reality of needing to maintain 24/7 traffic flow to critical infrastructure like the CJIA airport. After all, there was no possibility of closing the road completely for construction. The roadway provided access to Guyana’s largest airport, military facilities, schools, medical facilities, countless large and small businesses, as well as tens of thousands of residents.

To reconstruct such a road, including drains and utilities while everyone continued to live there, do business there, and drive on the road required out-of-the-ordinary work schedules, relegating major works to nighttime when traffic was slightly less than during daytime but certainly not light. It was always guaranteed that some discomfort would happen for residents and road users. Nevertheless, the work team of China Road and Bridge Corporation^[2] worked hard and in coordination with the Traffic Police, the Ministry of Public Works^[1], and Sheladia Inc.^[3] Therefore, it was clear that the project had thus far been a monumental undertaking coordinated by local and international teams.

Cultural differences need to be acknowledged in a work effort combining people from multiple countries. Guyana, China, Canada, England, Cuba, and Venezuela are nationalities working together in their own roles to move forward with the project, and before any work is done, people from these vastly different countries and cultural backgrounds have been coordinating their efforts daily and nightly. To have come this far with such a diverse work team is a testament to the efforts of China Road and Bridge Corporation^[2] to embrace diversity, view the people of all countries as brothers and sisters, and to utilize the appropriate efforts to maintain multicultural relationships.

Work continues day and night, with all involved exposed to extreme heat, sudden rain, high winds, the risk of speeding trucks and cars, drunk or belligerent drivers, and countless other factors that the outside perspective may not consider. Belligerent drivers, especially, have become a variable that must be taken into consideration since carefully planned traffic diversions using one-lane flow systems are disrupted by drivers refusing to wait in line and choosing to overtake the entire line.

Belligerent drivers represent the single biggest enemy of carefully prepared traffic management plans, but how can one appropriately compel drivers to follow rules and common sense when the drivers prioritize their own selves over the hundreds of others doing the right thing and waiting their turn? Among the drivers, those who have red and blue flashing lights and even sirens but are not emergency vehicles add another level of complexity to the problem of traffic management. One can appreciate the damage that one non-emergency vehicle equipped with lights and sirens outside the law can do to a one-lane traffic system that is being used to manage hundreds of cars in both directions.

As a Guyanese, I can say that the culture of belligerent drivers on the road is abysmal and a detriment to national development. No traffic management plan can feasibly accommodate belligerent drivers. Making a video on Facebook and saying, “Have a look at this traffic jam,” is a different challenge from determining how to stop belligerent drivers from crashing the traffic management systems.

I have observed that stakeholders drive by, make superficial observations about traffic, and publicize them on social media or in print media. It is their right to observe, analyze, and comment, no doubt. There is also acknowledgment that those who pursue political capital, social media clout, or some form of publicity exploit the situation by highlighting a traffic jam that happened due to variables they do not know and that is being addressed by a workforce whose members they could not name.

It is an unfortunate aspect of the project that subtracts from the combined effort of China Road and Bridge Corporation^[2], the Ministry of Public Works^[1], Sheladia Inc.^[3], and the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department teams, respectively. Negative commentary on social media only stirs an emotional response, contributing little to problem-solving. If there is a unique perspective on how to solve traffic issues happening under these extreme conditions, it would be welcomed if communicated on social media or in print media.

The Traffic Police have clearly played one of the most significant roles in this road construction project thus far. We Guyanese know ourselves and must admit that if the Traffic Police were not at each construction site 24/7, the instructions to stop and wait given by ordinary traffic management staff would never have been heeded.

To solely utilize traffic control staff and expect the driving public to comply with them at all times has always been a weak point in traffic management plans that has been observed to have been corrected.

Thus, it could be understood why traffic police, soaked in sweat, coated in dust, and under immense pressure, could be seen working alongside the China Road and Bridge staff members.

Of special note are the upper ranks of the Police Force Traffic Department who are engaged around the clock coordinating the ranks on the ground. The Guyanese people owe a deep vote of thanks to the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department for their efforts to maintain traffic flow coordinated with China Road and Bridge Corporation^[2]. There is also the Ministry of Public Works^[1] and Sheladia Inc.^[3], making essential efforts to balance the pace of construction with the needs of the residents and drivers. Together, these groups and their efforts have pushed the project forward against all odds.

It should be admitted that due to the vast scope and difficulty of this project, many local and international companies would have opted not to get involved. In a unique way, China Road and Bridge Corporation^[2] stepped up to the challenge and shouldered significant responsibility by accepting this project and following through until its current level of completion. It can be seen as a testament to the dedication and respect that China Road and Bridge Corporation^[2] has for Guyana and the Guyanese people. In reality, civil service manifests in various ways, and the complicated interaction between business for profit and civil service has been made clear through the course of this project.

Enduring the difficult conditions, persevering despite setbacks, and always willing to demonstrate its commitment to Guyana, I dare say it was a lucky day for Guyana when China Road and Bridge Corporation^[2] shouldered the responsibility of the East Bank Road Construction project and not a company that would have fled when the difficult reality of the project was gradually revealed.

Any other project that China Road and Bridge Corporation^[2] accepts in Guyana will likely be treated with similar dedication. In business, it is always preferable to utilize a tried and trusted partner instead of a new and unproven one. In extension, these sentiments of a tried and trusted partner can be attributed to the relationship between Guyana and China.

References

1. About Foreign Projects | Ministry of Public Works — mopw.gov.gy ↩
2. US$75.8M EBD road expansion: 24-hour construction ordered by Govt to fast-track delayed project - Guyana Times — guyanatimesgy.com ↩
3. MOPW signs contract to upgrade major East Bank thoroughfare – Department of Public Information, Guyana — dpi.gov.gy ↩