Members of the multi-stakeholder committee for the East Bank Demerara Road extension from Providence to Diamond/Grove were Thursday briefed on what is needed of them and how they are to communicate the feedback acquired from the public during the execution of the project.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, the stakeholders will also be tasked with interacting with the public and noting their complaints and grievances, after which they will communicate in a timely manner the acquired information to the Ministry of Public Works.
Present at the training seminar were Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Consultant Simone Mangal, Kevin Bonette, IDB Civil Society Coordinator, officials from the Works Services Group, Ministry of Public Works and Communications, and other government and non-governmental committee members.
Mangal stated that the course will give members of the committee an understanding of the main elements of the project document and what is required of them.
She said the Social Engagement Plan (SEP) will be looked at carefully since the committee will spend the next three years working with the document, so that they can efficiently and effectively assist the executing agency with the project’s implementation.
Thursday’s training saw participants being educated on the purpose and mandate of the SEP, roles and responsibilities and conduct protocols of the main actors and how the SEP fits into the IDB safeguard policies.
Government has secured a loan from the IDB to the tune of US$22M for the completion of phase two of the expansion of the East Bank Demerara Road which caters for the areas from Providence to Diamond Housing scheme being extended to accommodate four lanes of traffic.
A two-lane road linking the East Bank Demerara road to First Street Diamond, will serve as a second entrance into the Diamond Housing Scheme.
This is another attempt to considerably reduce traffic congestion which occurs at peak hours, the release added.
