The landscape of Region Three is being transformed with Government providing the necessary resources that will foster development in various sectors, including transportation, education, health, agriculture and business.
Region Three Chairman, Julius Faerber, at a press conference at the National Communications Network, expounded on several developmental works that are in progress and earmarked for the Region.
Drainage and Irrigation
Region Three, a farming district, will see further development of its drainage and irrigation infrastructure as part of Government’s efforts to prevent floods and allow adequate amounts of water for farming to boost the agriculture sector.
Faerber highlighted that through a budgetary allocation of $45M for the Region’s Drainage and Irrigation Programme, several drainage and irrigation structures will be rehabilitated and maintained.
He noted that several bridges providing access to farmlands will be rehabilitated at a cost of $4.3M. These bridges are at Oragnestein Façade, Farm/ Ruby Façade and Barnwell West.
To better prepare for the rainy period, the Region will be servicing its river sluices, wrenches, doors and pulleys, among others, at a cost of $7.5M.
Faerber said that rehabilitative works will be done to sidelines and middle-walks. The Region will also be spending over $100,000 on rehabilitating a structure at Barnwell middle-walk.
He noted that the Region is expecting to prepare dams so that farmlands will be easily accessible to farmers.
There are excavation works earmarked for the Region at the Morashee/ Bonasika high level canal and Morashee / Lamakabra distributary, costing $6M and $3M respectively.
The Region is at present weeding and cleaning trenches on a monthly basis so as to provide clean environs for citizens and prevent clogging which can cause floods during extensive rainfall.
Market tarmacs
Through the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Region Three vendors and consumers will be benefiting from three market tarmacs. The market facilities will reduce illegal vending and a crowded Vreed-en-Hoop area, Faerber indicated.

Garbage
In an effort to stop the practice of littering, the Region has taken the position that perpetrators will be prosecuted.
“We have asked the Public Health Authorities to take action against persons for littering,” Faerber said.
He noted that the Region has been appealing to residents not to dump garbage in waterways, roads and parapets. Faerber said that in most areas Puran Brothers Garbage Disposal service is utilised and persons residing in areas that have access to that facility should utilise it.

Encroachment
Encroachment on State reserves is a threat to road safety and hinders further road development, and so Government has been demolishing illegal structures.
Faerber noted that the Region has asked the NDCs to write to everyone occupying reserves illegally. Other than notifying them that they are encumbering Government’s reserves, the Region has encouraged them to apply for house lots in the various housing schemes in Region Three.
He highlighted that established businesses are also involved in illegally occupying Government reserves with the erection of sign boards and billboards in front of their premises.
Faerber emphasised that the Region has written to the businesses to remove the signs and if not, the Region will have to remove them forcefully.
The Chairman noted that there have been some favourable responses but there are still some works to be done. He said that the Region was successful in removing some illegal occupants; but this is an occurrence that has happened over time, and it is not easily resolved.
Challenges
Some of the challenges the Region encounters may be reduced through cooperative efforts by the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and citizens, Faerber indicated. He noted that in most of the district’s NDC areas, residents are blocking drainage systems.
He said that some concrete bridges that are being constructed are narrow and restrict the drainage systems.  That, coupled with persons dumping garbage into the drains, leads to flooding.
Another challenge experienced by residents, especially motorists, is the cattle nuisance. Faerber noted that persons without adequate facilities to accommodate their cattle allow them to roam the roadways.
This is illegal and the NDCs will be taking stringent measures to put an end to this practice. Stray catchers will be employed in each NDC.
The Good Hope NDC is the only one to date that has identified within its boundary a land for the establishment of a pound. Faerber noted that Police Stations in the West Demerara district have resuscitated their pounds and they are ready for use.