PARAMARIBO – The residents of Paranam recently repeated their demand for the renovation of the wooden bridge that connects Paranam with the Laterietweg. This bridge which has been in a very bad shape for quite some time could collapse at any given moment. The local residents explained that they informed the authorities about this problem in January and that the children who want to go to school can no longer cross this bridge but that they have to take the long route.

The residents had hoped that the authorities would repair the bridge in the long dry season, so that the children could once again cross the bridge in the new school year. Many people and children who do not want to go around, take their chances by crossing the shaky bridge. Every year it is the same story. The residents complain about the bridge and officials draw up plans for the repairs but in the end nothing happens. About ten years ago the bridge was going to be repaired but the project was cancelled because it was too expensive. The local residents pointed out that a child recently fell off the bridge. They hope that officials will finally address the issue before somebody gets an accident while crossing the bridge…[+]