– link Regions Eight and Nine
Two bridges valued at $20.5 million, which link Regions Eight and Nine, were recently commissioned by Pauline Sukhai during a visit last week to several Amerindian communities located in the South and North Rupununi.
The Echilibar river bridge, built at the cost of $12.7 million and the $7.8 million Twiling bridge were both constructed by contractor Leslie Dowden, a release from GINA said.
The Twiling bridge is expected to increase access between farms and markets.
Speaking at the commissioning of the bridges, Sukhai said that their construction present opportunities for more cooperation between the two administrative regions.
Identifying them an infrastructural developments, Sukhai stated that the bridges “will help reduce poverty and help as a vehicle for change in how North Pakaraimas can now do business. She noted that the bridges are “opening links not only for the North Pakaraimas… but also for others from the coast land who would want to provide services that are not available here [in the hinterland]”.
Regional Executive Officer of Region Eight Ishwar Dass said that the linkage of the bridge across the Echilibar river will not only benefit residents but contractors since they can now have access to transport their building materials via the bridge instead of using air services to do so, GINA stated.
Permanent Secretary of the Agriculture Ministry Nigel Dharamlall, Hinterland Affairs Coordinator Harripersaud Nokta, Region Eight Chairman Senor Bell, Chairman of Region Nine Clarindo Lucas and PPP/C General Secretary Donald Ramotar were among the officials who witnessed the commissioning.