The 2008 budget for the Region Four administration this year has topped the $2B mark and more focus is to be placed on the maintenance of education and health infrastructure within the region.
In a statement on Monday the region’s administration said that some $89M would be spent on administration and finance, $129M in agriculture, $161M in education delivery and $202M in health services.
Regional Executive Officer Shafdar Alli said that the road network would also see improvement and $140M was set aside for the capital works programme.
This year the region also envisages the construction of two greenheart heavy- duty bridges at Clonbrook and Unity, Mahaica on the East Coast and some $12.5M has been set aside for this.
The region also plans to recommence the construction of the Practical Instruction Centre at Buxton for which $10M has been allocated. Major rehabilitation, the statement said, is also slated for the Cane Grove and Annandale primary schools on the East Coast of Demerara, as well as Laluni Primary School on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway and Low Wood Primary School located on the Upper Demerara River.
Some $14M is also to be expended on health centres at Herstelling and Buxton and the construction of living quarters for health workers who service the St. Cuthbert’s Mission health centre.
The Access Road at South Better Hope is to also be constructed under the capital works programme which would also see repairs to the Double Road, Logwood, Enmore and 2nd Street, Success.
Agricultural development in several parts of the region would be covered under a $30M allotment. The statement also quoted Alli as saying that this year’s work programme was based on consultation with the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils within the region and other stakeholders. It said too that tender documents for roads, bridges and agricultural development are currently being prepared.
