Region Six has experienced no excessive flooding with 100 per cent completion of its drainage and irrigation (D&I) programmes budgeted for the year, Regional Chairman Zulfikar Mustapha has said.
Speaking at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) final press conference of the year, the chairman expressed confidence in the drainage and irrigation system in the region and declared that he had received no reports of any excessive flooding in the region. He said the D&I system was functioning better now.
The chairman said $80 million was budgeted for drainage and irrigation and $78.8 million was expended so far, although the accountants were still working on paying various contractors which is expected to be completed tomorrow.
With regard to the regional administration’s and Finance, Agriculture, Public Works, Education and Health Services, for which $2 billion were allotted, 97.6% of the work has been completed.
Giving a summary, Mustapha said all the work under the D&I project has been completed and the sluices at Kilmanack, Paykoo, Borlam and Nigg were rehabilitated. The drainage canals at Whim, Auchlyne, Lighttown to Kitty were excavated, he said. Additionally empoldering at Maratraite and construction of timber revetment at Lonsdale sluice, Crabwood Creek and North Siphon at Manarabisi were also done. Under the capital expenditure, $243 million was budgeted for the year which included work on bridges, education buildings, health buildings, administration buildings, drainage and irrigation, roads, land development and transport also furniture.
Mustapha said nine footpath bridges at Number 70, 71, 72, 73, Mibicuri, Yakusari and Johanna were completed along with others. The Skeldon Primary School extension project was completed while work is still ongoing on the Port Mourant Community High School extension project and a dormitory at Orealla. Other works completed include the rehabilitation of the Audiology centre at the New Amsterdam hospital, the completion of the institution’s own canteen and construction of burn boxes (used for disposing of needles) at the Skeldon hospital.
According to Mustapha, work is still ongoing on the Orealla/Siparuta Road while others at Kilcoy, Fyrish, Babu John, Number 63 Old Road Mibicuri and others have been completed. He stated further that they have completed all community roads. The East Bank and East Canje roads, he said, fall under the Ministry of Public Works and because of the inclement weather the contractors have put the work on hold. The contractors he said would have to revisit roads that have started to deteriorate.
He added that the towns have a different budget from the Ministry of Local Government, but that the region has spent about $600,000 to fill potholes. He added that the region also gives support by lending machinery to the town councils.