Residents complain of deplorable roads as Mahdia declared Guyana’s newest town

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan on Monday announced that the community of Mahdia in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) has been designated a township in accordance with the pronouncement of President David Granger when he addressed the opening of the 11th Parliament.
During his address on that occasion, President Granger announced that his administration would be upgrading four hinterland regional administrative centres: Bartica, Mabaruma, Lethem and Mahdia.
The Communities Ministry on Monday said there had been some challenges in the demarcation of constituency boundaries, which had resulted in delay in establishing the township.
“It is the intent of the administration to foster people’s empowerment through the strategic embrace of a decentralised form of governance. Mahdia will be the capital town of the Potaro/Siparuni region, which is part of Government’s vision of establishing, in collaboration with regional administrations, a capital town in each of the ten (10) development regions that will serve as the engine of growth and development of same,” a statement from the Communities Ministry related.
The Ministry said it is encouraged by the transformation that has taken place in the three recently established townships as a result of local leaders seizing this opportunity of this empowerment exercise. It also said these new urban centres are important allies in assisting to close the gap that exists between the hinterland and coastland regions.
The Communities Ministry also related that the foundation for the transformation of Mahdia has already begun to be laid with the upgrading of 80 per cent of the internal roads from laterite to concrete, which will last for decades. Moreover, plans have been advanced for the construction of a Government compound that will house a number of Government agencies, such as the Guyana Revenue Authority, Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Guyana Water Inc, and other agencies.
“It is important to note, as stated in the Order, the boundaries of the new township exclude the titled Amerindian Villages of Campbelltown and Micobie, as is the expressed desire of those village councils following a series of consultations,” the Ministry said.
But residents and observers are now questioning whether this is the opportune time to make Mahdia a township, considering that the community is yet to be equipped with the relevant services offered in a town, and that the road leading into Mahdia is in a deplorable state.
“The access road to this new town is in a deplorable state. How can you have a town and no road to access it? I think the Government, in the haste for Local Government Elections, has put the cart before the horse in this case,” a resident said.
Another pointed out that persons are forced to walk at a section of the road leading to Mahdia, as minibuses and trucks often are stuck in the slush and must be pulled out by other vehicles.
“Something needs to be done immediately to fix the road. There is Mekdeci Mining right nearby, and they have equipment right there. Government should approach them and work out an arrangement to fix this road. I bet you if a Government minister come by land and (is) forced to walk…I bet you the road gon fix,” a mining operator told this publication.