INFRASTRUCTURAL GROWTH A SURE SIGN OF A DEVELOPING NATION

Nov 19, 2017 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

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The Ministry of Public Infrastructure has been quietly and without fanfare effecting significant change to the landscapes all over Guyana. The changes are already having a positive effect on the general comfort of our citizens on the Coast and inland. The best news is that the Ministry has only just begun, with a long, long road ahead (no pun intended).
Under the astute, determined stewardship of Ministers David Patterson and Annette Ferguson, the Ministry is continuing the projects that had begun before they assumed responsibility, and they have conceptualized and are implementing quite a number of new ones.
ECD ROAD WIDENING/
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
The project to widen the East Coast Demerara highway had begun quite some years ago, but it stalled prior to the 2015 elections for strange reasons. This administration, with the best intentions to improve road safety and safeguard the lives and property of our citizens who live on and travel along the East Coast corridor, resurrected the project, and from midyear this year turned its attention on the 17km stretch between Better Hope and Belfield. Works re-started here on 19 August last.
This time the Contractor is China Railway First Group Company that acquired a concrete batching plant and hot asphalt mixing plant to speed up the works. By the end of October, the base materials were laid; the drains on both sides of the 4-lane section were re-designed and re-dug, and other retaining structures put in place. Relocation of utility poles began in November.
EBD PEDESTRIAN OVERPASSES
TO BE COMMISSIONED SOON
The five brand new, first-for-Guyana pedestrian overpasses on the East Bank Demerara are expected to be commissioned before year-end, barring unforeseen circumstances. They are located at Houston, Peter’s Hall, Eccles, Providence and Diamond.
In addition to a strong foundation, the works included/involved piling, pile caps, concrete slabs, the erection of superstructures, stairways, landings, canopies and a revetment at Diamond. Contractor B & J Civil Works had won the contract for the overpasses at Houston, Eccles and Peter’s Hall while S. Jagmohan Hardware constructed the overpasses at Providence and Diamond.
The overarching objective is to provide the right facility to take residents, school children and the infirm across the very busy East Bank highway safely and quickly. The pedestrian overpasses will also help to eliminate traffic congestion on the East Bank road which is about the busiest in the country, and they will keep pedestrians safe from road accidents.
IMPROVED ACCESS ROADS
AT WEST BERBICE
Nestled aback of the Administrative Complex in Region 5, about half a mile south of the Public Road, is a rapidly developing housing scheme being built on lands acquired from the Hopetown Multipurpose Co-op. Catherina’s Lust South is home to a number of retired public servants and remigrants.
The new scheme is growing with electricity and water installed and now with a new access road into the scheme from the public road. The residents’ relief at being spared the indignity and hardship of wading through deep mud in the rainy season and being covered with heavy dust when it is dry is almost palpable.
Before the scheme was built, the road was originally a Market Road in very poor condition. The decision to upgrade it was actually resisted by some Region 5 Councillors. Why? No one could understand, since farm-to-market roads must also be smooth and easily passable, i.e. if Guyana takes this very real chance to raise our stature in the world of agriculture, to improve our farmers’ ability to supply markets in and out of Guyana with the wide range of products, and to earn revenue!
In addition, the company, Air Services Limited (ASL) operates an aerodrome in the vicinity, providing aerial services to rice farmers (seed, fertilizing and spraying for pest control). ASL uses the same stretch of road to access their airfield so they contributed significantly to its rehabilitation. Soon afterward, the regional administration awarded a contract for the road upgrade much to relief of farmers and residents of Catherina’s Lust.
The same was done for Baker St. located in the eastern section of Number 22 (Hopetown) Village. For years the residents had been clamoring for a proper road. Because of its bad condition, school children, mothers, farmers and the aged had been forced to take a long detour to get to and from their homes. Baker Street was recently upgraded to a crush-and-run surface.
IN THE HINTERLAND
For many decades the major corridors linking the Coastland with the Hinterland have taken the brunt of Mother Nature’s wrath with floods, mud and breakaways into ravines. Government through the Public Infrastructure Ministry is determined to change this, to make the road trip into the interior from Linden, Parika and everywhere else along the Coast and near inland areas, as smooth as possible and shorter.
Now roadworks at Issano, Karrau to Buckhall are progressing. The Issano road runs 75 miles from the Bartica/Potaro road and extends approximately 52 miles to the Issano Landing. The roadway is primarily used by miners, and it is now so badly deteriorated that travel has become arduous and miserable, even for the frequent riders like small scale miners and mining supply trucks. The sand road was so narrow that two vehicles could not pass each other. MMC is going widen the road to three times the current width.
Work on the stretch that runs directly to the Landing will begin in 2018. The contract worth $92M has been awarded to Mekdeci Mining Company and preparatory works have already commenced.
Meanwhile, the Ministry is also in the process of rehabilitating the road linking Karrau with Buckhall to make movement between the two communities for trade, social activities and passage for loggers much easier.
This contract was awarded to International Import and Supplies, which company is also responsible for the upgrade of the Port Kaituma to Matthews Ridge road. Four bridges along the Karrau to Buckhall corridor are also slated for maintenance and repairs.
(To be continued)

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