Region Ten is set to benefit from nearly $350 million in infrastructural works this year which includes the upgrading of the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, according to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill.
The minister also disclosed that in the final quarter of this year, the contract for the construction of the first 125 kilometres of the Linden to Lethem road will be signed.
These disclosures were made at the commissioning of the newly rehabilitated Washer Pond Road in Linden yesterday. According to Edghill, the Public Works Ministry has awarded a $150 million contract for the upgrade of the Linden/Soesdyke Highway. It is the Ministry’s hope, he said, that with the highway being upgraded, people will be able to travel more safely and key issues like flooding will be addressed. He added that rehabilitation works are set to commence in various areas across Linden under the Ministry’s Miscellaneous and Urban Roads programme.
Under this programme, rehabilitation works will be done on the Kwakwani road network which would cost approximately $35 million. Edghill noted that the recent flooding has left internal roads in the community badly damaged, hence the need for works in that area. In addition, the road for Hururu Village will also be rehabilitated at the cost of $13.5 million and West Watooka, Phase Three Amelia’s Ward, and Block 22 roads will also be rehabilitated for $34 million, $23 million and $28 million, respectively.
Further, rehabilitation road works will be done from Old England to Coomacka Mines and in Andy’s Ville and Crossville in Wismar for $30 and $20 million, respectively. He also disclosed that $20 million will be spent on the rehabilitation of the Third Street Corner, East Amelia’s Ward, $17 million on Top Notch to Half Mile road, $12 million on the main road leading to One Mile Primary school and $16 million for its side road.
The minister pointed out that several of these contracts have already been awarded.
In relation to the Linden to Lethem road, the construction of the first 125 kilometres, which extends from Linden to Mabura Hill, will cost US$190 million and is being funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructural Fund.
“The contract is in its final procurement stage… A number of companies have been shortlisted and as soon as the CDB gives approval of those shortlisted companies, price proposals and final evaluation the contract will be signed,” the minister was quoted as saying.
Future plans include a road from Orealla to Kwakwani to be done in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.
Apart from the roads, Edghill also spoke of the Ministry’s plan to develop an area at the Demerara River waterfront at the cost of some $30 million. This, he said, will be done in 2021 and according to the minister, it is expected that an area will be decided upon by July 31 and includes construction of recreational and sanitation facilities.
He also disclosed that a new contractor has been awarded the project to complete the river defence works at Speightland which should be completed in a couple of weeks.
“Our approach to development is non-discriminatory. Every region, every community, every group of people must be able to benefit from the national purse or from the economic tide,” Edghill said while urging local contractors to bid for contracts so that residents can gain employment which in turn would enable more money to circulate within the community. He pointed out that presently, contractors who are not from the region where the project is located are mandated to include workers from that region in their workforce.
The minister also encouraged the youths to take advantage of the opportunities that are available at the Linden Technical Institute and other vocational organisations.
