Meadow Bank residents laud construction service

Sep 13, 2016 News

It was a letter penned to Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Customer Service Department and S. Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Service, by a Meadow Bank, Georgetown resident that prompted a

This excavator was used to clear a bush infested drain in the community.

clean-up campaign in the community last month-end.
The letter was written by Ufax Branche, a taxi driver, who has lived all his life in the neighbourhood. He said the letter was also sent to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).
Now the residents of the small community are praising the efforts, in particular those of a GWI Divisional Manager and the construction company for the much needed infrastructural and sanitation works they received.
Branche said that during last month, the construction service visited the small village which is bordered in the west by the Demerara River, to lay pipes. However, he said that after the works were completed there was residual damage to bridges and fences. He also said that several drains were left clogged after stone, sand and dirt fell into them as a result of the work of an excavator.
“They had to dig up the roads and so on to lay the pipes. They also had to break some bridges to run pipes under them. When they cast back they do some of the humps them too high and some people gates could not open,” Branche stated.
Branche pointed out that the GWI divisional manager promised to remedy the situation. “(The divisional manager) gave us the commitment that they were going to do repairs but they did not really do anything. “ About a week after, Branche said, the owner of the construction service visited the community and promised to send a truck and small excavator, if the community organized a team to carry out the cleanup works.

Several draines alongside the road were cleared.

Several drains alongside the road were cleared.

“Women, men and children came out…about 40 of them. We did continuous works although we experienced a lot of setbacks…We underestimated the work needed to be carried out.”
The resident continued, “I wanted to gave him (the owner) credit for keeping his promise. Most construction companies would come and do their work and then move on when they are done.”
Branche indicated that there are still other works that need to be done. He said that community is appealing with the M&CC for help. In fact, he recalled that the last time he made contact with the M&CC, he was told that the municipal body had limited resources due to ongoing cleanup campaigns countrywide.
“We really need an excavator. That equipment is very expensive to rent. I heard it cost about $12,000 an hour to rent one of the small ones. We (the residents) cannot afford to pay for that.”
The taxi driver pointed out this was the first time he could recall something of this nature being done for the flood prone community. According to him, what counts for the residents is the fact that their voices are being heard. He added that the community no longer feels neglected.