Two tarmacs, being built in the North West District of Region One, at a total cost of $72M, are to help bring order to parking, serve as a marketplace and provide a recreational place especially for youths in those areas.
Minister in the Ministry of Local Government Norman Whittaker made this announcement yesterday, when he signed the contracts for the construction of the tarmacs at Moruca – worth $34.9M – and Mabaruma at $37M.
The two companies awarded the contracts were Joshi Construction and Transportation Establishment, of De Willem, West Coast Demerara, for the Mabaruma tarmac, and Sattaur Mohammed and Son Construction and Hardware Supplies, for the Moruca tarmac.
Works will begin next week and are expected to be completed within 16 weeks.
Speaking with Stabroek News on the usefulness of the tarmacs and the cost of construction, Whittaker defended the cost of the tarmacs. He explained that this was due to the soil-type, geographical location and the cost of transporting materials to the sites. “When one is accessing or making a comparison in cost of tarmacs in the North West and in the city, a lot had to be taken into consideration. There [in the North West], the soil type is mostly pegasse and to get a solid foundation there would have to be a lot of drainage and solidifying to that kind of soil.
Also, the cost and sourcing of material to be used…the companies would have to go to Region Two to get material and all of this our engineers analyze before giving their estimation,” he said.
He noted that the engineer used for the two projects, although his name was not disclosed, was one from Region One who has done works for the Regional Democratic Council before and is therefore experienced.
Whittaker explained that the ministry undertook to build the Moruca tarmac due to the increase in the amount of vehicles and the traffic congestion experienced by residents in the region, coupled with the fact that on market days vendors do not have a proper place to display and sell their produce. He said that during the day, the tarmac will be used as a vehicle terminal where drivers will have to pay a fee and on market days, Tuesdays and Saturdays, persons will have collapsible stalls to sell their produce. He added that since there will be designated parking times, the tarmac will also be available to youths of the area to utilize as a recreational place.
In Mabaruma, the tarmac will primarily be used as a relocated market for persons who used “the waterfront,” which was an unfit area for vending.
He said some of the stalls at that tarmac will be permanent while some will be collapsible to cater for the area to also be used for recreational purposes.
