Sascha Wilson
Fire services were called out to extinguish burning debris along Maria David Trace, San Francique Road, Penal on Monday morning during a protest over the deplorable road conditions.
Residents converged on the road around 5.30 am demanding their road be repaired.
Resident Ronald Kitwaroo explained that the road conditions have worsened over the last few months since the major road was closed for repairs and traffic diverted through Maria David Trace.
Kitwaroo said, "We asking for the two sides of the road, big hole, to be fixed. They using this road as a main road because they block San Francique Road now three months. The school bus stop passing, children cannot go to school."
He said their complaints to those in charge have fallen on deaf ears.
Another resident Krishna Manohar said heavy vehicles are causing major damage to the road. "We just want some boulders and oil sand. No big thing just make it passable," he said.
Incumbent councillor Doodnath Mayrhoo said it would cost over $1 million to repair the road, but the corporation does not have the funds.
"This is unjust to divert traffic from main road to come in here. This road is not built to withstand this volume of traffic."
Mayrhoo said he will support residents to continue protesting until the road is repaired.
