Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh yesterday oversaw the signing of contracts for the construction of 287 community roads in Region Six totalling $8.8 billion.
A release from the Ministry of Finance said that the works will be carried out by 200 contractors. Joining the finance minister in overseeing the signing of the contracts, which took place at the Albion Community Centre Ground were Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill and a team from that Ministry as well as Regional Chairman, David Armogan and other regional officials.
Speaking at the ceremony, Singh said that it might seem like a simple signing ceremony but an initiative that will see 287 roads in communities across the length and breadth of Region Six being rebuilt and, in some cases being rebuilt for the first time is a momentous occasion.
“…and I believe that the people of the beneficiary communities are already seeing the impact of these investments,” Singh added noting that “many of you know, you’ve seen me in your respective villages. I have had the privilege of going to communities and witnessing roads that previously were dams… many of them never having been in receipt of the benefit of a finished surface- and I have gone back and seen how the construction of a road where previously there was a dam, the immeasurable difference this makes to communities.”
Edghill, in his remarks noted that while defending the supplementary funds in the National Assembly for the construction of more roads, he had emphasized that as a country “we have been able to do more than we anticipated”.
He added: “So at the beginning of the year when we had the National Budget, we had a sum that was allocated for the building of community roads, what we call miscellaneous roads, we went out to tender, we signed contracts, and we saw the execution of a number or projects. The Minister of Finance informed that there was fiscal space and because of that fiscal space, we received an allocation to be able to do more community roads,” he explained to residents.
