President Bharrat Jagdeo on Tuesday again told Black Bush Polder residents that plans are in train to upgrade the main road at a cost of US$7M.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release the proposal is currently with the international financing partner, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for final approval. It is expected that the request for tenders will be published in February, with vetting of the submitted tenders and selection of the contractor for the works to be completed in April. Work is expected to start soon after.
Jagdeo first revealed these plans during a 2005 visit to Berbice. At the time, the president had said that government was working with the IDB to reach an agreement on the proposal and had indicated that the project would have taken a few years before it came to fruition.
GINA said this and many other major infrastructural projects are happening at a time when government is enjoying significant fiscal space to invest heavily in the country.
Berbice in particular has benefited significantly with $5B invested in 2009 to upgrade physical infrastructure including the completion of a US$35M project to upgrade the New Amsterdam to Moleson Creek thoroughfare.
In 2006 the Black Bush Polder road had received a facelift when $191M was spent to resurface it. However, this community and those nearby are rice farming areas and as such heavy machinery frequently traverse the road which has caused it to deteriorate quickly.
The release also said the agriculture ministry will soon start to undertake a $500M programme in the area. This will see the establishment of another drainage structure and the desilting of canals.
GINA said too $250M of the funds will be used to extend pastures to provide more space for cattle farmers to develop their herds.
GINA said the meeting was hosted at the Mibicuri Community Centre.