No response from Finance Ministry yet
THE Ministry of Finance has not yet responded to financial requests from the Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) administration for the construction of a new bridge leading to the Ocean View Housing Scheme at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara. Regional Chairman Julius Faerber made the disclosure to the Chronicle yesterday morning and he noted, too, that no work is being done on the bridge presently.
At a recent press conference to discuss the capital and current work programmes of the region, Faerber disclosed that the administration was in discussion with the Ministry of Finance for funds to start the project.
The Uitvlugt bridge has been closed to vehicular traffic since last December due to its deplorable state and has reportedly caused severe inconvenience since it is the key bypass to the said housing scheme.
A new bridge, Faerber reported, will have to come under the region’s capital programme but since no provision was made for it in the annual budget, the administration is unable to have it constructed.
It is for this reason that the regional administration sought to write  the ministry, asking for a special concession to do the bridge. The Chairman said that the letter was already penned and officials are still awaiting the minister’s response.
In an invited comment last month, Faerber had told the Chronicle, by telephone, that the regional administration will work with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo)) to effect repairs to the said bridge.
The bridge, which was built by GuySuCo, was not suitable for heavy traffic.
Faerber mentioned that, because the administration did not make provision for the necessary repairs in its budget, it will have to rely on some of its savings to help with the job.
He said the administration will notify GuySuCo of the amount it managed to garner and request that the latter contributes the additional funds.
Meanwhile, the other access bridge, though in a deplorable state as well, is accommodating all of the traffic, including heavy-duty vehicles, much to the severe inconvenience of the public.
However, because it is made of wood, due to the volume of traffic, it would have to be repaired regularly with millions of taxpayers’ dollars annually.
Some concerned citizens said a logical solution would be to build a modern, concrete, heavy-duty replacement with a walkway to cater for children and other pedestrians.