Region Three – achieving successes with limited resources

Apr 13, 2014 News

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With a population amounting to in excess of 100,000 people, according to the official census records of 2002, Region Three is classified as Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, an alluring rural district that can easily pull on the curiosity of just about anyone as they leave the Demerara Harbour Bridge or dismount a speed boat at the Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling.

Home to many fascinatingly designed architectural buildings and stretches of thoroughfare that can take you way past the historic Wales Estate on the West Bank of Demerara or the Parika Stelling at East Bank Essequibo, the Region is one that embodies a sense of tranquility having left the ‘hustle and bustle’ of the capital city of Georgetown.
But, like the other nine administrative Regions of the country, Region Three is not without its challenges. Limited financing has from long been the primary factor hindering quality regional developmental works, particularly as it relates to road repairs.
This disclosure was recently made by Regional Chairman, Julius Faerber, during an interview with this publication which saw him seeking to shed light on the reason repairs are annually warranted on some roads.
“The road works that we do are limited in terms of financing and because of the financing we are not able to do the type of roads that we would like such as the asphalt concrete,” Faerber intimated.
This, as a result, has seen the Region’s road repair works being characterised by double bitumen surfaces which are often no match for heavy vehicles that traverse them on a regular basis, sometimes causing damage much too soon. In addition to the impact of the weight of some of these vehicles, the Regional Chairman disclosed that the situation is compounded by inclement weather which contributes to the creation of potholes and at times, causes impassable roads.
However, in recognition of this daunting state of affairs, Faerber said that “we are trying to move away from that now; most of the roads we are trying to put in place are the asphalt concrete.”
And the Region has had some support in this regard through the Community Road Improvement Programme (CRIP) which, according to Faerber, has seen at least three Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NCDs) benefiting from improved quality roads. With funding, amounting to US$18.7M, from both the Caribbean Development Bank and Government, the CRIP programme was one intended to facilitate the construction of 100 kilometres of community roads.
The Region Three roads that were repaired under the CRIP programme were some located in the NDCs of Best/Klein/Pouderoyen, Stewartville/Cornelia Ida and Tuschen/Uitvlugt. And according to Faerber, “the type of work they received was very noticeable because those roads are better roads now than the ones that we would normally do.”
Moreover, there are yet some roads within these very NDCs that remain a challenge to the Regional Administration since they require annual repairs. And while some residents within expanding housing schemes, such as La Parfaite Harmonie, are looking to the Region to facilitate road repairs, Faerber informed that “we do not have direct control over these housing schemes…these schemes are still under the control of the Ministry of Housing, so we cannot venture into some areas to do anything until they are handed over to us.”
He nevertheless explained that the Ministry would usually undertake strategic works in order to upgrade about 75 per cent of these scheme roads before they are placed in the care of the Region. This would by extension see the Region budgeting for their maintenance and repairs as well.
Faerber said that the Region is currently finalising its budget, with in excess of $200 million already set aside for its capital programme.
“We are working on our works programme in terms of putting together our bill of quantities and very shortly, say within another month, we will be putting out advertisements and then start executing the various works that we have budgeted for.”
In addition to the upgrading of roads throughout the Region, works slated for this year will include rehabilitation to community bridges, maintenance work on schools and other regional buildings. Further still, the budget will cater to the excavation of trenches and repairs to a number of sluices.
And according to Faerber, who has been serving in the capacity of Regional Chairman for the past eight years, one of his more noteworthy achievements thus far has been works to improve the Region’s drainage system.
“I can remember coming in the Region and there were many of our trenches and canals that were in a deplorable state, but today they are functional and many of our farmers are happy…A larger farming area has been developed because of the clearing of these waterways  and now our farmers are able to  have more produce.”
However, he insisted that the challenges under his tenure continue to be regular works warranted to repair roads as well as education and health facilities.
Faerber said that funds are continually plugged into the rehabilitation of health facilities, especially the health centres which, he said, are rehabilitated and adequately equipped and furnished with the relevant drugs.
“This is important to promote primary health care whereby persons living in the communities spread across the Regions can access medical care and treatment easily rather than have to travel miles to the West Demerara Regional Hospital.”
Despite the fact that “funds are never sufficient” Faerber revealed that “we have done quite a lot of work in terms of improving our health facilities but of course we are not where we really want to be as yet and so we are working towards having a better health service in this Region.”
And even as the Regional Administration fervently continues infrastructural works, Faerber said that keen attention is also paid to the state of security as well. According to him, the efforts of the Police Force have been instrumental in helping to ensure that residents have an improved sense of security.
“Security in this Region has improved, because looking at the general statistics over the years we have seen a decline in the rate of certain crimes. We have even seen a drastic reduction in fatal accidents,” Faerber said.
He did note, however, that although there have been many laudable achievements in the Region, “I am not satisfied; I think that we can do more and I think we can work together to ensure that we have a better Region.”

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