Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said on Friday that the proposed expansion to four lanes of the highway between New Amsterdam and Moleson Creek in Berbice will cost approximately US$400 million. He said the government has already allocated US$100 million towards this endeavour in the 2023 budget.
Jagdeo, who was speaking at the launch of the construction of the stadium and multipurpose facility at Palmyra, said that the 2023 budget allocation of US$100 million was to ensure that the expansion of the four-lane highway will commence this year.
Referring to his party’s manifesto, Jagdeo pointed out that the stadium was not included; the promise was for the building of a multipurpose centre. However, the stadium was later decided upon. “We are not limiting our expenditure only to the stadium. The stadium is important but we are focusing on jobs and opportunities for people in this region,” he added.
To this end, the Vice President revealed that Region Six will benefit from two new hospitals to improve the delivery of healthcare. According to him, the one which will be built at New Amsterdam will cost €150 million and be up to level five at European standards.
On the promise of 50,000 jobs, he said, “We are probably already close to that and there is much much more to go. Fifty thousand house lots – you’ve seen the housing development.”
Jagdeo stressed that the government does not care how citizens voted, “we are working for all of Guyana, all of Guyana.”
According to Jagdeo, around 11,000 persons have since benefited from government scholarships through the GOAL programme and, “that’s what we are about – development.”
He then warned against naysayers stressing that the oil and gas industry must be developed responsibly for Guyanese “so that they can have better jobs, they can get a better education, they can have healthcare, they can have development.”
According to him, the government and ExxonMobil have been working to ensure that on every new permit “we are raising the environmental standards.”
He then urged the thousands of Berbicians gathered to make sure that they are part of the country’s development on the national level and not to allow naysayers to get them sidetracked.