Residents of Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara, will soon benefit from a newly rehabilitated main access road.
During a community meeting held at the Cane Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson yesterday committed to repairing the road, according to the Department of Public Information (DPI).
Ferguson explained to the Council that though the Ministry of Public Infrastructure will give the necessary support to NDCs and Municipalities, it has an annual budget that caters to various programmes.
“I said to the council that whatever savings we have from the 2018 budget we will see how best we can assist. We may not be able to do the entire stretch of road in 2018. First, my Region Four district engineer responsible for miscellaneous and bridges will return to the community and meet with the Chairman and Councillors. He will also assess the affected area, do the necessary measurement and cost and we will take it from there,” Ferguson explained.
DPI said that it was brought to the minister’s attention that the residents in Cane Grove do not pay rates and taxes and the NDC receives a subvention of $4 Million from central government. Ferguson encouraged the NDC to change this policy so that the community can benefit from greater development. She stressed the importance of the NDC and the government working more closely in the future for the development of the community.
DPI said that the residents were encouraged to go out and vote at the upcoming local government elections and reminded that it is an opportunity to elect councils and councillors who will ensure the progress of their respective communities.
Chairperson, of the NDC, Nemawattie Baldeo is pleased with the outcome of the meeting, according to DPI.
“We are grateful for Minister Ferguson’s commitment to helping us. We really need help with the road especially for our older people, school children and pregnant women who have to walk distance. Moreover, it’s predominantly an agricultural area and we need our road fixed to transport our produce especially since it’s the only road we have to access anywhere,” Baldeo said.
Other issues raised at the meeting focused on housing and water Ferguson promised to address with the relevant subject ministers.
This visit to the Cane Grove NDC is a part of series of meetings with various Neighbourhood Democratic Councils on the East Coast Demerara, Ferguson has on her schedule, DPI said.
