By: Jayda Jeune | HGPTV Nightly News
Residents of South Turkeyen, along Red Road just south of the Turkeyen Police Station, are voicing growing frustration over stagnant water, mosquito infestations, and poor management of ongoing drainage works being executed in the area by Delta Trucking & Logistics.
For several weeks, homeowners have been battling flooded yards, foul odors, and swarms of mosquitoes, which they say are worsening due to the blocking of the main drainage canal to facilitate the laying of new concrete drains. According to residents, no temporary systems were put in place to divert or pump out the accumulating water.
As a result, water levels have reportedly risen dangerously close to home foundations, creating what residents describe as a breeding ground for mosquitoes and a looming public health crisis.
One resident, who requested anonymity, told Nightly News that despite multiple calls and emails to the Ministry of Public Works, the Mayor and City Council, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), no tangible action has been taken.
In correspondence seen by this newscast, residents commended the road rehabilitation project but highlighted several critical concerns, including:
- Persistent water stagnation;
- Blocked access roads due to piled construction materials;
- Poor traffic management; and
- The absence of illuminated warning signs for motorists at night.
Additionally, they reported a decline in potable water supply since the project began and called for collaboration with Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to restore reliable access.
Residents fear that, given the rise in dengue and filaria cases, the current conditions could escalate into a public health emergency if not promptly addressed.
Following complaints, Nightly News reached an engineer attached to the Ministry of Public Works, who promised that the contractor would initiate drainage works by Wednesday. Two small pumps were later observed operating; however, by Thursday midday, they had been turned off, and the flooding persisted.
Repeated attempts to contact the engineer for an update went unanswered. Residents say they are still awaiting an official response from both the Ministry of Public Works and the contractor.
Meanwhile, they continue to call for urgent drainage and mosquito control interventions before the situation worsens.
The $1.5 billion project, awarded to Delta Trucking & Logistics, covers the rehabilitation and upgrade of the E Field Sophia roadway between Dennis Street and the University of Guyana access road, with a scheduled completion timeline of 12 months.
