‘Same day it brucking down’ – Edghill warns no compensation for illegal roadside structures

Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill has issued a stern warning that persons who erect structures on government reserves or within active road project zones anywhere in Guyana will not receive compensation and can expect immediate removal.

Speaking at a community meeting at the Skeldon Line Path Secondary School on Tuesday, the minister said the policy applies nationwide and is necessary to ensure the smooth execution of major infrastructure works.

“We have to give back the government the reserve, and I am making it very clear, because that’s government policy,” Edghill said.

He noted that in some cases, individuals, after learning where roads will pass, move to construct buildings along road shoulders or within project areas.

“People who learn about where the road will pass and go ahead and build something on the road shoulder – the same day that they go up, same day it brucking down,” he said.

The minister made it clear that such actions will not attract compensation or prior notice from the state.

“You don’t have to get notice. Nobody is going to go in an active project zone thinking they come to mark the spot and putting up something and then expecting the government to compensate them to move because the road gotta pass. People cannot do that,” he said.

Edghill added that engineers and ministry personnel across all regions have already been instructed to enforce the policy, while local authorities are being urged to educate residents.

“And we are saying to local authorities, sensitise and educate the people… The engineers and ministry personnel in every region and in every place have been so advised,” he said.

He stressed that safeguarding government reserves is critical as Guyana continues an aggressive push to modernise and expand its road network nationwide.