See full statement from the Ministry of Public Works:
The Ministry of Public Works has observed structural destruction of recently completed sidewalks and drainage covers along Aubrey Barker Road and Diamond Back Road.
Following a series of investigations by our technical teams, the Ministry officially clarifies that these damages are not a result of faulty engineering or substandard materials rather highlight the improper usage resulting in damages.
The walkways in these areas are engineered as reinforced drain covers, designed to withstand the weight of pedestrians and light residential traffic. While the Ministry acknowledges that residents must access their properties, the current design is intended to accommodate small vehicles, cars, and SUVs entering or exiting private yards. These critical infrastructures are also built to accommodate short-term parking for light-weight vehicles.
However, the Ministry has observed a persistent and prohibited trend of heavy-laden trucks, industrial vehicles, and overweight machinery traversing or parking permanently on these surfaces.
The Ministry re-emphasizes that these structures are not designed to serve as heavy-duty haulage routes or industrial parking lots. The concentrated weight of such vehicles exceeds the structural load-bearing capacity, leading to the cracking and eventual collapse of the drainage covers.
The Ministry of Public Works urges all citizens, motorists, and contractors to exercise consideration and common sense. The destruction of these public assets results in safety hazards and redundant spending on avoidable damages.
This then has a domino effect causing community inconvenience during remedial phase including road closures or restricted access with significant disruption to the daily lives.
As such, the Ministry recommend that alternative parking systems be sought by Heavy-duty truck owners in areas suitable for the weight of their vehicles.
In addition, when delivering construction materials (such as sand, stone, or timber), operators must ensure that vehicles remain on the main thoroughfare and do not mount the sidewalks. In cases where heavy access is unavoidable, temporary protective measures to address structural reinforcement (such as heavy-duty steel plating) should be utilised to protect the walkway.
The Ministry of Public Works remains committed to modernising Guyana’s infrastructure. However, the sustainability of these improvements depends on the collective care of the community.
The Ministry will be monitoring these areas closely, and persons found intentionally damaging public infrastructure may be held liable for the cost of repairs.
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