Iwokrama links with police to manage Georgetown-Lethem road
Stabroek News
April 20, 2004
A police officer is now stationed along the Iwokrama Forest portion of the Georgetown-Lethem Road to work with Iwokrama rangers who are also functioning as supernumerary constables.
A press release from the Iwokrama International Centre said it is working with a number of partners, including the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Public Works, to improve safety and reduce ecological impact along the trans-Guyana road. The roadway runs through the heart of the Iwokrama Forest from the Kurupukari Crossing, near the village of Fairview to the turning to the village of Surama.
According to the release, the decision to establish a police presence on the road was made by recently appointed Commissioner of Police Winston Felix and fulfils an earlier commitment made by the police.
Vehicles may be subject to random searches in consideration of national security and the safety of road travellers. Along the forest road corridor, the release said, Guyana's laws will be enforced, including speed limits, hunting restrictions and the Iwokrama Act (legislation establishing the Iwokrama Forest).
This new step will complement Iwokrama's Ranger Stations at Corkwood and Kurupukari and is also part of its strategy for future development of roadside visitor's facilities, increased patrolling and new checkpoints.
Iwokrama is also continuing to support the new road by providing timber, laterite and sand from the Iwokrama Forest to the private sector company contracted by government to maintain the road.
Over the last few years traffic has increased dramatically, especially in the last 12 months while the road has been greatly improved, offering a quicker and more reliable transportation route from the coast to Guyana's interior and to Lethem, the release said.
It said further that from May to September last year, the road carried a monthly average of 104 trucks, 144 4WD vehicles and 22 buses. From October 2003 to March 2004, the average monthly traffic jumped to 146 trucks, 211 4WD vehicles, and 66 buses.
While the road will bring many benefits, including increased access to markets for tourism, timber and other products, the release noted, increased traffic would expand the number of road accidents, roadside environmental and solid waste management issues, illegal trafficking and other problems.
In addition, community members and Iwokrama remain very concerned about the potential for illegal natural resource harvesting, increases in HIV and malaria infection rates, and cultural degradation within local communities.