CARIFOCUS

West Demerara Highway Should be Reconsidered…

Ronald Singh

I note with interest the socio-political and legal masquerade that has captured the nation’s attention over the last few months. Notwithstanding the ills of these events, many of which were unwanted or could have been avoided, one can see that this young democracy is up and running. This is a positive element in our development drive. Most Guyanese, except those with political aspirations, and/or those with politically impaired vision, would agree that we have come a far way in recent decades. Clearly, political and economic foresight, strategies and maneuvers, along with the international financial meltdown at a time when our few exports are enjoying high demand and prices, have been the mules in our progress over the last 5 – 7 years, or so. However, sustainable development requires not only vigilance and forward looking policies and programs, but also leadership with the testicular apparatuses for radical redesigning and implementation. At the same time, the leadership must have a vision of where the economy should be in the next 10-25 years. To that end, I chose to pen my thoughts, and advocate for an inland highway that would have a far greater positive impact on our development than would the proposed West Demerara Highway.

Proponents may hold strong to their view that the proposed project would among other reasons, enhance free flow of traffic along the West Demerara – Parika corridor. But while this may be so in the short run, it would likely come at a high cost, and prove grossly inadequate in a decade or so. In the first place, hundreds of houses and other buildings would have to be moved back to permit widening of the highway. Further, whatever free flow advantage gained would be negated by the bottlenecks at the Demerara Harbour Bridge. Additionally, increased traffic with vehicles of varying sizes, and possible increased speed zones, through road-edge villages would not only increase noise and carbon pollution, but would also pose a threat to the safety of children, the elderly and cyclists. Throw in a few more casualties at medical facilities across West Demerara and reality would paint a vivid picture of the potential fatalities.

A more potent approach to increase efficiency and free flow of traffic would be to cut a B-line highway from near the west-end of the Demerara Bridge and go towards the Essequibo River, and then bending towards Bonasika with the idea of continuing to Makouria. This would solve the free flow of traffic problem as well as our long term infrastructural and economic drive. This highway would induce population movement thereby creating jobs through housing, infrastructure, agriculture and economic activities as people gravitate towards the highway. Equally important is the fact that settlements such as Hague backdam, Ruby backdam and Parika backdam have already stretched several miles inland. Furthermore, there is every possibility that recently established Tuschen, Zeelugt and CI, as well proposed housing schemes at Leonora and Uitvlugt, and private housing drives would continue further inland over the next decade or so. We should therefore not harness the West Demerara highway with additional traffic from these schemes. Instead we should re-route traffic through an inland highway not far behind these schemes.

In a nutshell, an inland highway as proposed here would alleviate the problem of slow moving traffic, and at the same time bring multiple other benefits to our economy, in keeping with our long term sustainable economic growth and development.