The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) yesterday said it handed over completed civil works projects to three communities on Thursday.
A total of 60 troops from the GDF Engineering Corps working in three groups completed the projects in Regions 5 and 6, a release from the GDF said.
It stated that the projects were all Government of Guyana initiatives.
In Region 5 a forty-foot lightweight vehicle bridge was constructed at Catherine/Burma, and the dam was raised along a 100-foot stretch. The engineering corps also completed a 72-foot revetment to the northern section of the dam fronting the bridge. At Port Mourant (Region 6), the former information technology building at the Port Mourant Sports Club Ground was retrofitted. It now houses a block of rest and changing rooms to accommodate males and females. Also in Region 6, a lightweight vehicle bridge with a 70-foot span was constructed at Lesbeholden, Black Bush Polder from January 18 to February 22. Region Six Chairman, David Armogan, received the completed infrastructure.
In handing over the facilities to stakeholder representatives, Project Engineer for the Government of Guyana, Brigadier Gary Beaton, said that each of the projects falls within the scope of the vision of President Irfaan Ali to have the Guyana Defence Force become more community-oriented in its service to Guyana.
“I thank our Commander-in-Chief for his expression of confidence in the Engineering Corps and the GDF to engage these projects. We are here in keeping with his vision for the Force to be more involved in the development of communities all across Guyana. It is anticipated that various Guyanese communities will see much more of the GDF Engineer Corps, as it undertakes and completes similar projects to these,” he said.
“With bridges in particular, these are significant symbols and real entities that foster connection, cooperation and harmony by bringing people and communities together. At the sites of these three projects, we were pleased and thankful for the support of the people. Our soldiers developed real connections with the residents and this is a positive offshoot for projects such as these. It is not just about the GDF going to communities to build physical structures; more importantly, it is about the residents and the communities building bonds and experiencing the humanity of our military,” he added.
Chairman of Region Five, Vickchand Ramphal said that he was happy to have the GDF involved in the region and expressed gratitude to the GDF Engineering Corps for completing and delivering a functional bridge for the community. The newly-constructed bridge will provide access to residents in the immediate and surrounding communities as well as access for the fishing community that operates from the nearby Abary Sluice. The project at the Port Mourant Sports Club Ground was received by the groundsman on behalf of the sports community.
