New Amsterdam is expected to be lit up over the next couple of weeks with the expected installation of over 956 streetlights.
According to the Mayor and Town Council of New Amsterdam, a contract was recently signed for the installation process, which is expected to begin on Monday.
During a press conference yesterday, the media was told that the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) has since given the go ahead for the installation of the streetlights, which can be accommodated by its distribution network. It was noted that once GPL’s network is upgraded, which is expected in the future, more streetlights can be installed.
Mayor of New Amsterdam Winifred Haywood explained that the lights would be divided among the seven constituencies of the township.
APNU Town Councillor Kirk Fraser also noted that within the Angoy’s Avenue area, rehabilitation works for a number of streets have been put out to tender.
He further stated that works, estimated to cost in excess of $7 million, will be carried out at the playing facility at Tucburg. The project will be a collaboration with the Ministry of Communities.
“We will be doing back the entire playing facility, adding a new bleacher to the facility. We will be doing landfilling for the entire ground. We will also be looking at the fencing and we will also be looking at the washroom. We are also looking to install lights in the facility,” he said.
Additionally, Fraser noted that works will be carried out at the Bermine Ground, which he said they hope to restore to a high standard. “The council would have made representation to ensure that we restore that ground to an acceptable standard and we can even attract what used to take place in the past, first class cricket, to the Bermine Ground,” he noted.
He added that the front fence has since been completed while work on the pitches are presently ongoing. He said that it is expected that in about three weeks youths can access the ground.
According to Fraser, the Ministry of Social Cohesion, “directly under Mr. Christopher Jones… would have given us $1.5 million to assist with the fencing of Bermine Ground.”
He stated, also, that the council, at its own expense, has since installed two lights at the New Amsterdam Basketball Court, while two more are expected to be installed. Additionally, he said, they are working to get approval to resurface the basketball court.
Fraser also said the Municipal Ground, located next to the Regional Democratic Council office, is expected to see some works as well.
Meanwhile, during the press conference it was disclosed that three of six solar panels were stolen from the Esplanade ground in New Amsterdam. The items were discovered stolen on January 19th.
Stabroek News was told that a police report was filed at the New Amsterdam Police Station.
The council has since removed the remaining three solar panels, leaving the ground unlit for over a month.
It was noted that after measures are put in place to ensure the solar panels cannot be stolen, they will then be reinstalled, since officials at the council claimed that the three remaining solar panels would be “good enough” to light the 30 lights at the ground although initially six solar panels had been placed.
