Region Eight is expected to build and upgrade infrastructure that will improve mobility and access to health and education services, to the tune of $100.7M.
According to a press release from the Regional Democratic Office (RDC) Chairman Senor Bell made this disclosure at an April 16 council meeting. The council met for the first time, in its new building, which was commissioned by Local Government Minister Kellawan Lall last October.
The meeting heard that $14.5M would be spent to build two heavy-duty bridges at Anundabaru and Imuku. “The bridges will form and link a thoroughfare that was started in 2007 linking the respective communities of Maikwak and Itabac to Kato in the North Pakaraimas,” the release said. It would also allow vehicular movements between the respective communities at a significantly shorter distance and time.
The RDC said too a 30ft x 40ft building would be built to accommodate the Sub-Regional Office at Kato, at a cost of $5M. Also, $34M would be spent on the following projects: relocating the Department of Education to the Administrative Compound in Mahdia; building a new school at Micobie to replace the old one; building a primary school at Muruwa and a dormitory at Paramakatoi to alleviate congestion at the Paramakatoi Secondary School. Teachers’ quarters would also be built at Maikwak and the Mahdia Nursery would be fenced.
According to the release, the Health Hut at Micobie would be extended, the X-Ray facility at the Mahdia District Hospital rehabilitated and a storeroom built in the hospital’s compound at a total cost of $9.5M. At a meeting with contractors, Regional Executive Officer Ishwar Dass told them he expected the work being tendered for and awarded to be of high quality.
Transportation in the region would be further boosted with the acquisition of a new tractor, at a cost of $6.5M. The capital programme also caters for the construction of roadways between Paramakatoi and Chenapau and Tuseneng and Monkey Mountain. It also provides for the construction of concrete drains, at a cost of $12M.
As regards land and water transportation, $7.1M has been allocated for the purchase of a 4×4 off-road, open-back, pick-up truck and an all-terrain vehicle. These will allow officers better access to communities especially in the delivery of education to sub-regions. Meanwhile, $11.028M would be spent on furniture and equipment in the education, health and administration departments. This sum will be used to secure and install solar panels and accessories along with lighting fixtures to schools, health facilities and administrative complexes in the North Pakaraimas. Desks, chairs, radio sets and solar refrigerators will also be installed.
According to Dass, the $100.728M in the region’s capital budget represents its plans to create a network of roads in the North Pakaraimas – Sub-Region One – that would lead to improvements in the education and health sectors.
