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…Dharamlall issues order for the regional authorities to find best solution
Following a public outcry, the government has issued instructions to the regional administration and the town council at Mabaruma, North West District to discontinue the cutting of the town’s historic rubber trees.
On Wednesday afternoon, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall noted on his Facebook account that he has instructed the authorities to halt the exercise and find an engineering solution, in which the trees will remain standing
He said that he has also instructed Mayor Chris Phang and the regional administration to publish the results of consultations undertaken in the past regarding the trees under the previous APNU+AFC administration including details of the bodies which participated.
He called on the authorities at Mabaruma to discuss with the Ministry of Public Works, the best engineering solution which can be applied to have the trees remaining.
On Wednesday morning, workers began chopping the trees, hours after the town council published a notice regarding the cutting of the trees, citing development of the town as one of the reasons for the move.
However, a public outcry soon followed and several environmentalists as well as members of the public have noted that a better solution can be implemented to save the historic rubber trees which line the Philbert Pierre Avenue at the hill-top town.
The cutting of the trees was first raised in 2019 when the previous administration began road works in the area and plans were being undertaken to widen that section of the roadway. Residents have noted that the trees pose a danger to the public given their age and the volume of traffic which passes the areas daily. However, persons have noted that there has never been any reported instances of anyone being injured by the trees while others have noted that regular trimming exercises could be implemented to ensure no danger is posed to the public.
At the town, there is a parallel roadway at the westen end of the town which is sometimes utilised by motorists when the Philbert Pierre Avenue is closed to traffic.
