Bartica: The Bartica/Potaro road which was built in the early nineteen hundreds and which wound its way for one hundred and ten miles from Bartica in Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) to Mahdia, Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni) with branches along the way, needs to be resuscitated, according to Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) Mr. Colin Sparman, Administrative Manager.
He added that the GGDMA intends to approach the Hinterland Roads Committee with the strong recommendation that this “key” road is repaired and reopened so it can foster mining and economic development along the route.
The Bartica/Potaro road will be a boost to gold and diamond mining operations in the Mazaruni and the Potaro goldfields .
“Miners in the Mazaruni can get fuel, foodstuffs and supplies from Bartica in less time and consequently with reduced costs of operations,” he said.
The road will also be good news for residents of both Bartica and Mahdia, since persons wanting to travel to Mahdia from Bartica have to cross the Essequibo at Sherima to get to the Linden Lethem road and then cross the Essequibo River again, near Mabura, to travel westwards overland to get to Mahdia, a very time consuming trip.
He explained that those wanting to get to Bartica from Mahdia have to travel the same route in reverse that is “eastwards towards the Essequibo and the Linden- Lethem road, northwards almost up to Wismar, then back to Bartica via the crossing at Sherima.”
A direct route from Bartica to Mahdia on a good road will take between two and three hours, for the residents in both communities, he said.
The road will also provide access to several areas in the back-dam where gold miners are conducting operations as well as to new areas of the goldfields for exploitation.
The Bartica-Potaro road, crosses the Potaro River by means of the historic Garraway Stream suspension bridge and was utilized up to the early 1990s for access to the goldfields, before it was abandoned following the construction of the road from the Linden- Lethem road near Mabura, westwards to the Essequibo River and onward to Mahdia.
Sparman said that the issue of the resuscitation of the Potaro road was recently discussed by members of the GGDMA and recommendations for the repairs and reopening of the road endorsed by them.
You must be logged in to post a comment.