It is therefore imperative that the necessary structural programmes and human resources are allocated to this vital component of sustainability, because in their absence the economic and social consequences are harsh - especially in developing countries like Guyana which have limited financial, human and technical resources.

In Guyana, there seems to have evolved a culture whereby something has to be completely destroyed before any corrective measures are taken.

Therefore, when and where there is little damage to various infrastructure which could be fixed at minimal costs and very little discomfort to the public, this is left to deteriorate to the point of disrepair.

The ensuing result is that the infrastructure has to be rebuilt completely, and then of course the question of availability of finance arises.

Most times the finance is unavailable and the end result is suffering for ordinary people.

Roads are a case in point in Guyana.

There undoubtedly have been tremendous efforts by the authorities to rebuild roads that had become impassable because of neglect for decades.

However, having spent huge sums of money to fix those roads, these are left to deteriorate again, simply because of a seeming lack of a sustained and proper maintenance programme.

A small hole develops on a road, no one does anything about it and it soon becomes larger.

No one in authority seems to pay any attention and sometimes the hole develops into a "crater"; then another develops, nothing is done -- and it goes on and on.

This is seen on so many streets in Georgetown that were not so long ago resurfaced at great cost.

Small holes growing into craters are also common on main roads along the coast and it is surprising that teams are not deployed to mend these when they first appear.

The Ministry of Public Works and Communications, all regional administrations and municipalities should have permanent monitoring and maintenance crews to regularly inspect roads and provide servicing as the need arises.

Surely, the costs and advantage of such crews would outweigh the costs and advantage of having to rebuild a new road every few years.

Apart from the direct economic costs, poorly maintained roads pose severe traffic hazards and dangers to drivers, commuters and all road users.

And of course the maintenance costs of vehicles are significantly increased because of damage caused by the poor state of roads.

For months there have been several holes on Brickdam, at the junction just before the Brickdam Police Station, Georgetown, and these are daily becoming an increasing danger to limbs and life and a hazard to vehicles.

But no one seems to be concerned about fixing the holes now.