The extraction of sand from Number 58 Village, Corentyne, Berbice by contractors has been put on hold following the intervention of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and an engineer from the Ministry of Public Works on Tuesday.
The engineer met with the contractors, NDC officials and land owners after the Number 52-74 NDC objected to the removal of large quantities of sand from an area that is adjacent to the $1 billion farm to market access road at Number 58 Village.
NDC Chairman Emraj Ghanshan told this publication that he had concerns of the damage to the road being caused by the lorries traversing to extract the sand. He said he engaged the contractors and asked then to visit the NDC office to discuss the matter, but none of them did.
As such, the police were called in to assist Monday afternoon after Ghanshan and contractors clashed on the issue.
Reports are that none of the contractors had been paying royalties to the NDC for the sand extracted.
Meanwhile, one of the contractors Anirudh Ramcharitar said the sand was being taken to Palmyra for developmental works there.
He said the NDC Chairman had approached them and verbally granted approval for them to extract the sand. He said the NDC Chairman requested that they do not extract sand from within 20ft of the road and they complied.
“Now today is a different story. They saying we have to get permission from Geology and Mines and from the EPA,” the contractor said.
Following a decision to have all contractors compliant, the NDC ordered that based on advice, the contractors would have to stop extracting sand from Number 58 Village.
The contractors are now required to apply to Geology and Mines Commission for permission to extract the sand and also get permission from the Environmental Protection Agency, before applying to the NDC.
Meanwhile, in protest, one of the contractors took his lorries to the Corentyne Highway and blocked traffic.
The police were called in and were eventually able to clear the road.
