National infrastructure improvement can be seen, heard, felt
MINISTER of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn announced, Thursday, that the new Supenaam Stelling on Essequibo coast is expected to be operational in the next two weeks.
He made the announcement during his contribution to the 2010 Budget Debate in the National Assembly.
Benn said efforts that were made, by the Government, in terms of developing the country have to be particularly viewed in the international context and, in spite of the challenges faced, there has been steady progress in this country, year after year.
“The Chinese Government and the Government of Guyana are working together to acquire two new roll on, roll off ferries, intended for the Essequibo passage, while we work on the issue of the North West passage,” he informed the House.
He said more vessel transits have been put in place to Bartica and Essequibo, while the authorities are working on other issues.
“We have had the unfortunate issue, so far, where we are still delayed in operationalising the new Supenaam Stelling,” Benn admitted, maintaining that it is being addressed by Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) and Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) management.
“And we expect, in two weeks time, that this small challenge will be addressed and fixed and we will be using the new Supenaam facility,” he reiterated.
Talking about the holistic approach to the infrastructural programme for 2009 and 2010, Benn said, this year, his Ministry has been budgeted expenditure of more than $10.8 billion.
In terms of operating divisions, especially the DHB, he said the Ministry has had an acceptable level of serviceability in 2009 and the facilitation of easy movement of goods and services between the East and West Banks of Demerara River .
Benn said some $747M was provided, by Central Government in 2009, for  the fabrication of 2,000 deck plates which took up the bulk of the allocation,  utilising $593M.
He said that contract has seen a vast improvement with the quality and serviceability of the bridge and the total amount of traffic crossing it was 2,348,000 vehicles, indicating an increased volume, of an average of 16 per cent, in 2009 over 2008.

Revenue
Benn disclosed that revenue collected for the bridge operations was more than $417M.
He said one of the innovations to be put in place on the DHB this year is the placing of cameras and a system to allow for people not having to hand in their tickets on the western side so that traffic moves in a faster manner.
About more activities within his portfolio, Benn said there was the merger of the Sea and River Defence divisions with the Work Services Group in 2008,but the full integration was only realised last year.
He said activities continued in 2009 on foreign funded road projects, nationally funded miscellaneous, urban and hinterland roads and bridges maintenance, in collaboration with Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), as well as work on sea and river defences, donor and funded programmes, the extension of the Ogle Airstrip and of Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) runways, as well as many other miscellaneous assignments.
Benn also said some of the 2009 achievement relate to the transportation infrastructure rehabilitation programme started in that year and contracts were awarded for the construction of 26 culverts and bridges between Timehri, East bank Demerara and Rosignol, West Bank Berbice, at a cost of US$6.9M.
He said the undertaking also includes the rehabilitation of the Abary Bridge, of which 75 per cent was completed by the end of the year and mobilisaiton was in progress for constructing other culverts and bridges.
Benn said a sum of $890M has been provided in 2010 and its completion is scheduled for August this year, with three national contractors currently engaged in the execution.
Referring to roads safety, he said the Ministry continues to implement projects aimed at reducing accidents and fatalities at various locations on the national roadways.
According to him, a $205M allocation, in 2009 and $172.2M for 2010, are for its continuation.
Benn said lights have been installed on the thoroughfares at East Bank Demerara, West Bank Demerara, West Coast Demerara, East Bank Berbice and Anna Regina on Essequibo Coast.

Statements
Responding to statements by People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Member of Parliament (MP), Ms. Vanessa Kissoon, that the people of Linden demand that lights be strung along the highway from Soesdyke, he said the fact of the matter is that it is not normal for highways which are not heavily inhabited to be strung along with lights.
He observed, too, that, at West Berbice, there is a long distance between the Berbice River Bridge and Number Seven Village, where there is a gap in road lighting and explained that, by the time the programme got off the ground, the costing for lights to cover that area was not enough.
“The materials expense got higher and we are hoping to address that problem this year,” Benn offered.
However, he said: “Unfortunately, some people want to say or suggest that the reason this area was left out is that there was a deliberate ethnic gap. I would like to point out that all sections of the population in the area are affected.”
With respect to the encroachment on road reserves, Benn said: “We have made a tremendous effort towards clearing up the road reserves and this has had a lot of discussion and recommendations on all sides in relation to this matter.
“I want to say we are mandated to continue this work this year and, in fact, we will be redoubling our efforts, because, in spite of our clearing, particularly say parts on the East Coast and West Coast, some people still seem to think that they have a right to steal public land; use the reserves in an unsafe manner; not leave, for the engineer, a margin of safety error for a car or other vehicle which may run off of the highway.
“So, this is an issue which we will continue with and I call for the full support, not only from the House but also from the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and people out there, in the public, to get vocal, too, in their support for this project, because I know we have the support for it,” he stated.
Alluding to nationally funded programmes, Benn said the Ministry continued doing roads and bridges throughout the entire coast and, under these various projects and programme, $2.4 billion were spent in 2009.
He said some of the projects are rolling over into this year and almost 266 roads have been completed throughout the entire length and breadth of the coast, including Buxton, as well at Lethem, Rupununi and Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice).

Website
Benn said, importantly, his ministry will be establishing a new website so that the public can interface with the Work Services Group about works being carried out and enhance the responsiveness to the concerns of communities.
He said a significant improvement in 2009 was that a new asphalt plant at Garden of Eden, that cost US$153,900, replaced the old and is already providing a great boost to the roads maintenance and rehabilitation.
Benn said among some of the significant 2010 projects are the rehabilitation of the East and West Canje roads; rehabilitation of Sheriff Street and Mandela Avenue, at a cost of G$20.5M; the design and cost benefit analysis for the extension of the East Bank Demerara four-lane roadway from the National Stadium at Provi
dence to Grove, for which terms of reference and bid documents are being prepared and G$197.6M provided.
He said G$451M has been allocated for the overlaying of the concrete section of road from CJIA to Soesdyke junction, a project with one of its development partners being the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
A contract has also been awarded for work on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway and that is expected to start shortly while enormous effort is being made to work with GGMC on interior roads, Benn said.
More of the major activities accomplished last year were the planting of 8,000 units of mangrove seedlings and a new project with the European Union (EU), working with the expertise of the National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) on the rehabilitation of mangroves.
Advances at the CJIA are ongoing and certain concessions were approved, including establishment a new security unit, he reported.
For the Civil Aviation Authority, Benn said it was an historic year, as a contract was signed for G$660M to modernise the navigation systems in the Control Tower at Timheri.
He said that is underway and is to be completed within a year while rehabilitation of the tower complex is ongoing to include a new water distribution system.
Benn said a search rescue report was completed and submitted and, importantly, in terms of staffing and training, seven new air traffic control officers were trained.
He said the aviation security systems are being looked at, together with a risk assessment related to aviation matters and air transportation management.
About the Maritime Administration Department (MAD), Benn said it has been carrying out its mandate in an exemplary manner although it faces certain challenges.
He said 24 hours dredging has been implemented in the Demerara ships channel and, throughout the country, signs of progress could be seen, heard and felt.
Benn challenged those who are questioning this particular issue to take their case to the people who are beneficiaries of the progress.