Mustapha acknowledges incremental improvements through development
THE continued development of Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne ) is rapidly moving apace and the ‘Ancient County ‘ has  already witnessed incremental improvements in various sectors during 2010. Regional Chairman, Mr. Zulfikar Mustapha, made the announcement during the Ministry of Housing ‘One Stop Shop’ outreach, last Friday, at Albion Community Centre ground, Corentyne.
He said the exercise was another example of the commitment, by the Administration, to improve the lives of all the citizens.
Mustapha said almost 100 per cent of the Capital Works Programme in the Region is nearing completion and final visits to work sites are, currently, being made.
“Because of  the way we have approached our work programme this year, we have completed 91 community roads, under the Capital and Maintenance Road Programme  and, now, have more funds, from the Ministry of Finance through Office of the President, to do another 96 community roads,” he disclosed.
Mustapha said, by the specified completion time, a large number of roadways  would have been completed and the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) would  be able to boast of having paved thoroughfares.
“There has been a revolution in road construction in this region and this came about as a direct result of President Bharrat Jagdeo’s visit earlier this year,” the Chairman said, adding that 180 roads were built since then, demonstrating the benefit of his visiting.
In addition, Mustapha revealed that land cultivation has expanded, from 30,000 acres three years ago to 53,000 acres, to date, a direct result of the construction of new drainage and irrigation (D&I) infrastructure.
He said, as a result, planting in traditional areas is being surpassed by that in the non-traditional. “Number  57 to Bloomfield villages are now boasting more land for planting than Black Bush Polder and Number 52 to Number 74 villages.”

MOVING FORWARD
About improvements across the Region, Mustapha stated: “We are seeing the availability of land at East Bank Berbice and East Canje, which shows that the Region is moving forward, in terms of building infrastructure, road networks and other aspects.”
In the education sector, he said three new schools have been built at Number 79 and Port Mourant and plans are underway for constructing a community school at Number 43, another part of Corentyne, for children between Bush Lot and Number 63 villages .
Mustapha said the Ministry of Public Works, through the Government of Guyana, has been installing street lights, in three phases, from New Amsterdam to Palmyra, Fyrish to Bloomfield and Number 64 to Crabwood Creek.
He said the East Bank Berbice Public Road is of major concern as it is in dire need of rehabilitation.
“Although Government has done so much rehabilitating of  roads, this is a very contentious road. It requires almost $200M to completely resurface it,” he lamented.
Mustapha praised the Government and the Ministries, noting that he has always received full cooperation from all sectors.
“There are more and more  investments in Berbice  and I am very satisfied that the Government has made tremendous contributions, in terms of developing and modernising Region Six, so that it will be able to take its rightful place in the development of the country,” he stated.