The Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill is warning the general public against placing encumbrances on the shoulders of roads.
Minister Edghill cautioned that derelict vehicles on road shoulders will be removed, crushed and disposed. He said the Ministry of Public Works is in partnership with several contractors to facilitate the move.
Minister Edghill stressed that the plan is an unnecessary cost to the State, but it must be done to protect the lives of citizens.
The Traffic and Maintenance Division of the Ministry of Public Works is also giving notice to motorists who may have been involved in accidents that caused damage to government property that they will be required to cover the costs of the damage.
Compensation will be demanded for damages to utility poles, traffic lights, guard rails, bridges, and other government property.
This warning has also been extended to owners and operators of heavy-duty machinery who operate on newly paved roads without proper protection, damaging the asphalt or other areas of the roads.
Minister Edghill stated that the Government’s legal team is prepared to ensure this warning is enforced.
He said tire shops, supermarkets, and other major stores have been found to be encroaching on government reserves by extending their business onto road shoulders.
Edghill said that practice has forced pedestrians to walk directly on roads, instead of the footpaths created for them. The Minister said roadside vendors who build concrete stalls to sell food and goods on the road shoulders need to remove those structures and comply with business regulations.
The Ministry has started to seize items placed by business owners on the shoulders of the roads.
With the support of the Minister of Natural Resources and the Geology and Mines Commission, Minister Edghill plans to meet with all owners of quarries, sand pits, and loom pits to discuss fines to be enforced on trucks and other transport vehicles that disregard freight weight regulations.
The Public Works Ministry has launched a hotline to improve public engagement and to allow citizens to voice concerns, make complaints and report issues involving public works in Guyana.
The hotline number is +592-624-2964, and it is accessible on WhatsApp.
Citizens are encouraged to send messages, photos and videos concerning encroachments, stalled projects, and poor contractor performance to the Public Works Ministry.
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