Over $63 million in total is being spent for the rehabilitation of three roads at Black Bush Polder, Port Mourant and Cumberland, in Berbice.
A contract valued $19, 872, 944 was awarded to Premium Asphalt for the rehabilitation of America Street at Lesbeholden, Black Bush Polder; a contract valued $20,308,185 was awarded to T&R Construction Services for the rehabilitation of the Port Mourant/Johns NDC Street; and a contract valued $23,151,500 was awarded to Kascon Engineering for rehabilitation of Victoria Street, Cumberland Village, East Canje Berbice.
Residents at the various locations on Monday were elated about the signing of the contracts, which was presided over by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Nigel Dharamlall, Regional Chairman David Armogan and Regional Executive Officer Narindra Persaud.
Dharamlall, at Black Bush Polder, spoke of the importance of residents being aware of the works carried out in their communities so as to be able to monitor them. “We would like you to make sure that you monitor the construction. The street is supposed to be 645 meters long, it is supposed to be 3.66 meters wide and it is for the people of the area to use.”
While noting that this was the first time in many years that contracts were being signed at the location of the works, Dharamlall said, “I hope that when we construct this street that people are going to take full care of it, this is built in your community… It is a massive investment.”
Lesbeholden residents have complained bitterly in the past to President Irfaan Ali and various ministers over the need for works to be carried out on America Street.
According to the minister, this year nearly $600 million is being spent on community roads within all the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and townships within Region Six, while that sum is expected to increase over each of the coming years.
“Our President has indicated that every street that we do, every street that we build will have to be built in the form of asphaltic concrete so you can actually have a street within your community which is equivalent to a public road or the structure of a public road,” he noted.
In Cumberland Village, East Canje, Berbice, the residents shared their appreciation for the works to be done on Victoria Street which has been in a deplorable state for some years now.
