THE lights are being turned on along more and more corridors on the Guyana coast.The Government Information Agency (GINA) yesterday reported that the $58M project to install street lights along the West Coast Demerara highway, between Parika and Vreed-in-Hoop, has been completed. This is the latest phase of the Ministry of Public Works and Communications’ Transport Infrastructure Rehabilitation Programme to put up lights along roadways in densely populated areas.
The 358 street lights between Vreed-en-Hoop and Parika became operational on January 29, Traffic/Safety Engineer in the ministry, Nigel Erskine told GINA.
Also on the West Bank Demerara last year, 70 street lights were installed from the Demerara Harbour Bridge to Canal No.1 Polder.
And then on the East Bank Demerara, 768 were put up from Providence to Timehri – that busy corridor linking the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to the city.
Thirty eight street lights have also been put up in Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast.
In addition, street lights were installed at the Stabroek Market area in Georgetown earlier this year to help provide a safer environment for people.
These latest additions complement the long stretches of highways along the East Coast, West and East Berbice that are brightly lit at nights by street lights.
Developments like these may not be much for some people but they matter a lot to those who take time to reflect on what life was in Guyana not so many years ago when almost perpetual darkness was the norm in many parts of the country.
Now it’s possible to drive in comfort from Crabwood Creek in eastern Berbice, through the Demerara coast and down to Lethem in the deep south of the country.
If they so wish, they can drive to Brazil and then take the Pan American highway through Venezuela to head to North America.
The tremendous road improvements are going hand in hand with the almost frenetic development of housing schemes around the country and more are on the cards.
It has taken a lot of hard work, ingenuity, good planning and more to get where the country is today and there’s still a long way to go before the bulk of the population will be content.
The important thing though is that there are signs of progress everywhere and these, like the street lights that make travelling along the highways so much easier at nights, are a good barometer of development.
What makes it all the more significant is that these developments are occurring in spite of the impact of the global financial and economic downturn on struggling, developing countries, including Guyana.
Some things are quickly taken for granted but it is worthwhile for all to take time off to consider how far the nation has come from where it was not so long ago.
That can help provide comfort and determination for the hard work that still lies ahead.