PREPARING BARTICA FOR TOWNSHIP STATUS

Oct 18, 2015 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

---

… converting Region 7 into a model for sustainability
From the point where Guyana, Brazil and Venezuela meet, stretching eastward and to the north for some 47,213 km², is the second largest Administrative Region of Guyana, the Cuyuni-Mazaruni district.  This region is arguably the richest in natural resources – gold, timber, manganese, rare earths, diamonds and water.  Mount Roraima stands tall at 2,810 meters at this tri-juncture.  Dense forests with many common and lesser-known species of wood blanket the area.  Rivers, creeks and tributaries form intricate patterns and very often cascade over rocky ledges into breathtaking waterfalls.
The natural wealth of Region 7 is rivaled only by the resourcefulness of its people.  This is where Guyana’s first ‘Green Town’ will be established. Our
Government’s vision is to transform the entire Region into a model for sustainable development. The plan will see the administrative centre, Bartica, achieving the status of a ‘Green Town.’
These plans will see the Bartica Stelling transformed into a modern docking facility with numerous attractions for tourists. A state-of-the-art mall will also be constructed to bring into one place the wide variety of art, craft, agricultural products and tour-related trappings that the people in this green region produce.  It will house restaurants and entertainment centers complete with seating facilities strategically placed to overlook the fast-flowing Essequibo River.
GREEN TOWN
The Green Bartica will employ renewable energy sources to power the entire community.  Feasibility studies will be commissioned for a large hydro electric facility in the Mazaruni district which, it is anticipated, would be built in partnership with Brazil.  Tumatumari will also be powered by a smaller hydro electric plant.
The option of solar energy has also been drafted into this undertaking.  The plan is to provide the facilities to enable residents and business places to self generate using solar panels during daylight hours.  At night they will connect to the existing community power grid that is supplied by Guyana Power & Light Inc.
The pre-feasibility studies for this undertaking have already commenced and highly skilled technical teams are currently assessing the region’s total energy needs and drawing up the blueprints for the necessary facilities.
INFRASTRUCTURAL UPGRADE
Infrastructural upgrade plays an integral role in any development of this nature.  With respect to roads, the existing rutted track from Parika-Goshen is currently being upgraded to a paved road.  It will connect with the new bridge that is to be built over the Essequibo River and will add another point of access to this Green community.  In addition, the Government’s mobile asphalt ‘plant’ will support the upgrading to Double Bituminous Treated Surface (DBST) standard of the community’s internal road networks as well as those leading to satellite communities and the mining districts.
The Bartica – Potaro Road will be resurfaced as will be the Agatash, Byderabo Front and roads at Track X, Caribese Hill North and Mora.
A $6M allocation will support the construction of a new bridge at Wax Creek, Upper Mazaruni, while the sea defense at Byderabo will be fortified.
TOURISM
Tourists have already begun to experience the bountiful beauty of the Region. Bartica plays a significant role in the rally of Yachters that has now become an annual event.  The community provides customs and immigration, health and related services to the yachters who sail into Guyana via the Essequibo River.  October 2015 marked the third annual yachters rally that included boats from as far away as New Zealand.  The yachts docked at Bartica on the third leg of the 2015 Nereid’s Rally to the Guiana Shield.  They had sailed from Trinidad to Suriname then to Guyana before ending the rally in French Guiana.
One of the organizers revealed plans to construct a full-service Marina on the Essequibo River in the vicinity of Bartica.  This investment could see numerous foreign yachts berthing here throughout the year for repairs, maintenance and re-fitting.  Here they have almost guaranteed safety from the raging storms and hurricanes that plague the Caribbean Sea after mid-year.
HEALTH SERVICES
This new Green town is going to be equipped to offer a much wider range of medical services at high standards which will remove the need for residents to be referred to the main Public Hospital in the city.  The Bartica Hospital is to undergo extensive rehabilitation with construction of new wings that will be equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, operating theatres and modern facilities for patients, staff and specialist doctors.
Hospitals in nearby communities are also part of this extensive medical upgrade. The operating theatre at the Kamarang District Hospital will be enhanced along with in- and outpatient health care facilities and accommodation for nurses and doctors here and at Imbaimadai.  This will address a long existing need for quality resident health care professionals.  According to the Government Information News Agency, at least eight (8) resident doctors will be posted to these communities by November 2015.
LIFTING THE STANDARD OF EDUCATION
Budget 2015 has allocated significant sums of money for the execution of special projects to boost the standard of education delivery from the nursery to secondary levels.   Living quarters for teachers and students will be constructed, rehabilitated and expanded where necessary.  Because of the remoteness of the region special packages of emoluments will be offered.
There are three secondary schools in the district and a number of primary and nursery schools.  Recognising the gaps existing between the nursery and primary, and the primary and secondary levels, the Education Ministry recently launched a US$1.7M Early Childhood Project at St. Anthony’s Primary School. The project, funded by the World Bank, aims to improve the level of literacy and numeracy from the level of nursery.   This programme also has a component for parents and teachers as well.  The main objective
is to boost students’ performance at the National Grade Six Assessment, the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).
Over $100M was slated to be spent on the education sector this year.   Of this amount $72.24M will go towards construction and extension of schools and living quarters, and to complete the Chinowieng and Kartabo Primary School buildings.  The Agatash Primary School and living quarters at Waramadong Secondary school also come under the programme.  A further $15.6M has been earmarked to enhance teaching facilities and accommodation, with $4.5M for transportation, i.e. the procurement of a boat with outboard engine and an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV).
This administration’s thrust to restore public and educational infrastructure and the general aesthetics of Region 7 will not be confined to this area.  The Region, Bartica in particular, will be used as the model for improvements in other regions especially Regions 1, 8 and 9. (GINA)

---

---