Since President Bharrat Jagdeo pledged $25M in May last year to upgrade the 12-mile trail leading to St. Cuthbert’s Mission into an all-weather road, work has commenced.
However, the sum was only sufficient to cover an eight-mile stretch and as a result the project was taken over by the Ministry of Public Works, which will be providing additional resources to ensure the completion of the 12 miles of road, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
While making a spot check on Wednesday on the works completed, Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai said that the access road will greatly enhance the village’s prospects of agriculture as well as tourism.
“St. Cuthbert’s Mission has always attracted quite a lot of visitors particularly during heritage celebrations and weekends. Many people who did not have the use of a 4×4 would be constrained from coming in here, this is about to change,” she is quoted as saying.
Additionally, residents will now enjoy easier access to facilities outside of the village such as banks, schools, hospitals and other essential services, GINA concluded.