Development in Region Six moving apace
A GINA feature
Georgetown, GINA, August 06, 2004
This weekend, President Bharrat Jagdeo and other
Government officials will be visiting Region Six (East Berbice/
Corentyne) to inspect development works and hold meetings with
residents.
The Region has been progressing significantly during the last
decade and the Regional Administration has played its part in
ensuring that all capital work projects are carried out effectively,
even though there were a few hurdles on the road to development.
There have been significant infrastructural developments and this
year, Community Relations Officer of the Region, Faizal Jaffarally,
pointed out some of the works that have been completed in the
region. He noted that the Upper Corentyne Technical Institute
is 90% completed at a cost of $130M.
A new science laboratory at Tain Campus is under construction
at a cost of $90M while the New Amsterdam Hospital is 70% completed.
The hospital, when completed will include a number of modern facilities
to accommodate the large population in Berbice. Meanwhile, work
has also commenced on the Skeldon Sugar Estate expansion programme
which will cost US$ 110M. This is in addition to the road from
New Amsterdam to Crabwood Creek which is also slated for rehabilitated
to the tune of US$35M.
In relation to drainage and irrigation, the Region has desilted
outfalls at Eversham, Adventure, No. 43 and Whim. This will provide
better drainage and irrigation in the Region, a problem that has
been affecting several other regions.
Under Government’s Urban Development Programme (UDP) which
targets rehabilitation of several roads and municipal structures,
three markets have been completely rehabilitated. These are at
Corriverton, Rose Hall, and New Amsterdam. A number of roads are
also slated to be constructed under the programme. In addition,
it was noted that a contract has already been awarded for the
rehabilitation of the Black Bush Polder road and the Mara Road
in East Berbice under the Public Works Ministry.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Harripersaud
Nokta will be inspecting the UDP projects in the Region as part
of the administration’s visit there. This is to see how
the projects are being implemented and to ensure that those behind
schedule move forward. The UDP road projects will cost $178M in
New Amsterdam, $178M in Rose Hall and $128M in Corriverton.
Government’s execution agencies, Social Impact Amelioration
Programme (SIMAP) and Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) will also
carry out other developmental works including community roads
in areas such as Gangaram, Canefield, Albion, Kilkoy, Chesney
and Hampshire. The technical persons responsible for the designs
of the road projects are already at work.
During President Jagdeo’s visit to the Region in May this
year, he had promised to provide $10M to Berbice for the desilting
of drains and rehabilitation of streets. That promise was fulfilled
and works have commenced.
In the broadcasting arena, the National Communications Network
(NCN) has begun broadcasting from Berbice and residents are now
able to view quality programmes.
Government also hopes to begin construction of the bridge across
the Berbice River, regardless of the comments being made by persons
not in favour of the location of parts of the bridge. Government
is determined to fulfill all of its promises to the people of
that region. There are also plans in store to expand one of the
three airstrips in the Region to facilitate wider travel.
This year, a whopping $176.3 M was allocated to the Region for
more infrastructural development in the areas of health, education,
roads, land development, buildings, bridges, drainage and irrigation
and land transport.
Schools to be constructed include nursery schools at Port Mourant
and Glasgow, while other educational institutions are slated to
be extended and works have begun.
In the area of health, the Skeldon Hospital was earmarked to be
fully re-wired and an incubator room constructed. A new ambulance
was also slated for the Port Mourant hospital.
These are only some of the numerous development projects being
implemented in Berbice and the Government as well as the Regional
Administration are working to develop the Region even further
to facilitate more economic growth, broaden the Region’s
education capacity and widen the health sector.
TOP
Friday,
August 6, 2004