– CDB official says at commissioning of West Demerara Road Project

WHILE citing a number of projects to be undertaken in Guyana in the coming months , Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Chief Economic Division official, O’Reilly Lewis, said the regional financial institution is committed to providing support to key areas of the country’s development in the future.

Lewis was at the time speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the West Coast Demerara road project. Some 30.7 kilometers of the roadway from Vreed-en-Hoop to Hydronie, just about one mile east of Parika, was expanded, a project which took three years to materialise. The project forms part of the government’s plans to modernize the road network.

The works included overlaying, construction of road shoulders, grading of pavements for cyclists and pedestrians.  Several top government officials, including Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Minister of State , Joseph Harmon ; Minister of Finance , Winston Jordan; Minister of Communities , Ronald Bulkan; Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson; and Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, attended the forum on Wednesday afternoon.

Lewis stated that works included several components increasing the pavement and strength of the roadway, road safety awareness campaign targeting schools, community and driver road safety education programme.

Lewis said that the CDB continues to be involved with the government of Guyana with a number of projects which are currently under implementation. He listed sea and river defence projects in Region’s Two, Three, Four and Six. He said the bank is also “excited” about a number of studies which are at various stages of development, and which are all expected to lead to major infrastructure improvement and opportunities for Guyanese.
These include a grant from the United Kingdom government for the upgrade of the Linden-Mabura road and the design of a river-crossing at the Kurupukari Crossing on the Essequibo River.

Lewis said that in May this year, the bank approved funding for studies which will inform decisions of water treatment plans as well as upgrade of water supply infrastructure in Regions One, Two, Three, Five, Six and Eight and will benefit some 17,000 households.
“So it is clearly evident that we are in this for the long run,” Lewis said of the bank’s commitment. He said that the CDB has an “unwavering commitment to the government and people of Guyana” and he noted that the institution is looking forward to continuing long and fruitful relationship as both parties seek to re-orient and diversify the country’s economy.

Minister Patterson said the commissioning of the project reiterates the APNU+AFC government’s commitment to undertake infrastructural development across the country. He described the road project which was undertaken between the Government of Guyana and the CDB as “monumental.”

Patterson said that the other major projects carded for Region Three (Essequibo Islands /West Demerara) includes renewable energy programmes. He said that in the latter half of this year additional Solar PV projects will be undertaken at several public buildings in the region. He said LED lamps will be installed at all schools and hospitals in the region, a project which is currently ongoing in the region.

Other projects listed for undertaking includes rehabilitation of the Vreed-en-Hoop stelling, including the passenger post which will be revamped. Patterson also listed the new Demerara Habour Bridge project as one of several which will benefit the region.
Minister Harmon, in brief remarks, told the gathering that infrastructural development plays a key role in the socio-economic development of any country. He said great importance must be given to construction and infrastructure as he noted that the government, led by President David Granger, has identified infrastructure as a key element in Guyana’s development, linking the coastland with the hinterland, rural and urban communities and enabling access to the country’s natural resources.

He said the importance and priority of the government is especially evident in the 2018 national budget in which $32B was allocated to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, a significant sum of which was allocated to the national road network. Regional Executive Officer, Denis Jaikarran told the gathering that the road improvement project will advance the development of the country.