Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali last week Wednesday commissioned 16 roads at Bath-Woodley Park that have been upgraded under the Community Roads Improvement Programme (CRIP).
In his remarks during the commissioning ceremony held at the Bath Community Centre, Region Five, Ali urged the residents to celebrate this significant achievement. In reflecting on today’s developments, Ali said, “I can tell you that I was with this project from conception, and I knew the condition of some of the roads and in reflection it gives you a sense of accomplishment….”
A Government Information Agency (GINA) report said the CRIP catered for the rehabilitation of the NDC building and of over seven kilometres of roads, cleaning reshaping and realigning of existing roadways and the construction of new drains in Bull Street, 1st Cross Street, Cow Dam, School Street, Eddie Lall Street, Balkissoon Street, Floris Street, Katcha Street, Masjid Street and Jib Street, all of Bath Settlement and 1st, 2nd and 3rd Cross Streets, School Street, Sydney Dam and Pitch Street, Woodley Park, North. Four culverts were also constructed and rehabilitated.
The minister said he was satisfied with the quality of the work done and the way the resources had been utilised. He also revealed that an additional road was rehabilitated with the savings that accrued from the project.
The CRIP aims to improve the livelihoods of residents living in regions Three, Four, and Six in selected communities by improving access to housing, education, health and other social infrastructure. The project also covered capacity building which saw the NDC staff undergoing training in different areas to promote institutional self-sufficiency.
According to Ali, $80M was projected in the 2014 budget for the upgrading of roads to asphaltic concrete in Bath, Phases II and III while roads will be rehabilitated in Belladrum and Bush Lot. Two other projects in the 2014 budget were also established based on the success of CRIP: the Community Infrastructure Improvement Programme which will see the maintenance of community centre, cemeteries, drains, canals and school and a Livelihood Programme which is expected to create 200 jobs for residents within their respective NDCs.
Earlier this month, 32 roads were commissioned in Unity-Vereeniging, Mahaica; 15 in Enmore, East Coast Demerara and 39 in Port Mourant-John East Berbice, Corentyne, GINA said.
