Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, whilst on a visit to Kato, Region 8, on December 8, 2012, delivered on a commitment made to invest in the construction of a new bridge at Arrow Creek to link Kato to Chiung Mouth and Kurukubaru and which is crucial to the transportation needs of the residents of the Region, the Government Information Agency (GINA) has reported.
GINA said that Minister Sukhai handed over a $5M cheque to Toshao Noel Fredricks. This was witnessed by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Regional Execu-tive Officer (REO) Ronald Harsawack.
According to GINA, the sum of $4.5M will be spent on the bridge, while $500,000 will fund the much needed rehabilitation of the Chiung Mouth end of the road leading to the bridge. The construction and rehabilitation works will be carried out by the villagers.
Minister Sukhai cautioned that the village council must take full responsibility for ensuring the completion of the project.
GINA reported that Government and the Regions have taken the decision to award road and track construction and rehabilitation in the hinterland to the village councils as part of a process of building the local capacity and stimulating the village economies. The decision was also taken following steady complaints of outside contractors delivering substandard work.
GINA said that the Region 8 Administration, for this year has disbursed contracts to the value of $2.3M benefiting several village councils for road upgrades, cleaning of creeks and some other minor infrastructure works. REO Harsawack advised that Cen-tral Government has budgeted an additional $13.8M to disburse in this regard and that Kato has been identified as one of the villages that will benefit. It is in line to receive $1.5M. The REO has recommended that this could be used to complete the additional stretch of the Chiung Mouth end of the road leading to the Arrow Creek Bridge.
The village council was advised that the money will be disbursed after the council writes to the Tender Board accepting responsibility for the disbursement.
