Some residents of the Wisroc Housing Scheme and the Blue Berry Hill and Block 22 communities of Linden have asked that they be given jobs on the planned paving of the seven miles of roads in their communities.
A meeting was organised on Saturday between residents and Omai Gold Mines Limited Human Resources Director Norman McLean and representatives from the other entities which have committed themselves to pooling resources for the job.
Engineer Abdul Kadir said the road should be completed in two months. "Road building is not something that is done overnight. You have to do testing, you have to design and then you have to construct... We expect the actual construction to start by the end of May." Surveying works started on Wednesday morning following a commitment by President Bharrat Jagdeo during a visit on Tuesday. He was in the area mainly to address the crisis with electricity and water supplies.
Of major concern to the residents was the issue of locals being given job opportunities when the works began. They said that on several occasions works in the community were executed by outsiders and were not properly done. "Let us get the work done so in the end we wouldn't have no one to blame and we would ensure that the works are executed in the proper manner, because this is our home and we want nothing but the best," one resident commented.
They were encouraged to ensure that they present themselves to work and not sit back and wait to be called. One resident cautioned those who wanted to work to put their best foot forward. "You know when we people get de wuk deh does want to drink out and sport out dem money. And some of dem does want fuh check and see how much money deh contractor making and how much they getting. And next day the contractor got for look fo dem or employ others." Kadir was tasked with the responsibility to ensure that locals get on the project.
McLean told the residents that he had committed himself to ensuring that the other entities that have made commitments towards the project live up to their promises. The government has committed $50M towards the road resurfacing while other users of the road have committed to supplying stone, fuel, transportation and expertise. He further noted that in the interim, Omai had taken several initiatives to relieve residents from the dust nuisance. He noted that the company was currently wetting the road, but said that this was not as effective as was expected.
Additionally it is in the process of erecting speed bumps specifically to force other road users to maintain a 25kph speed limit in the area. Omai has also commenced repainting and erecting new speed limits and speed bump signs along the roads. "I have received a suggestion to do what we call a bitumous sand mix which will stop the dust immediately, providing you get at least eight hours of sunshine. It is not something which is going to last. It may last two months or maybe for the life of what we are doing. .... So we are also examining that."
The users of the road that are involved in the project and residents will be meeting every month for updates. Additionally the residents are forming a group which will be meeting with Omai to discuss issues affecting the community. The group will be a community development one.
The one question posed to McLean by residents, which could not be answered, was what was the Cambior board's decision on the Cambior investment in the bauxite company at Linden. "I myself am eagerly awaiting to know that decision." McLean said. There had been concerns that recent protests in Linden by residents could endanger the planned investment by Cambior.