as Region 3 development continues
MUCH investment has been made in the 10 administrative regions to boost development, and in Region 3, Essequibo Islands/West Demerara, more than $15B was spent in the housing sector during 2000 and 2010, creating more than 23,600 house lots and bringing benefits to over 97,700 people. Some of the areas that have benefited include Zeelugt North and South, Tuschen North and South, Tuschen Phase One and Two, Parfaite Harmonie, Onderneeming, Uitvlugt, Westminster, Recht Door Zee, Belle West, Plantation One and Two, Anna Catherina and Cornelia Ida.
Leonora
This West Coast Demerara village, where an old sugar estate existed, has been transformed into a housing scheme. Government, however, has tried as far as possible to retain the historical significance of the estate. The sum of $85M was earmarked for the development of approximately 240 house lots in Leonora.

The Housing Ministry is currently engaged with the Guyana Power and Light Company to commence work on the electricity network. The cost of installing electricity is estimated to be $14.5M. The water network has already been installed but has to be connected to the main.

Infrastructure
The area is one that will benefit from the Community Roads Improvement Programme (CRIP) project that will cater for over 200 roads in Regions 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Forty nine roads, totalling 23.36 km, are to be upgraded to DVSC or asphalted concrete standard in Tuschen/Uitvlugt, Stewartville/Cornelia Ida, and Best/Klien-Pouderoyen Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). The Region 3 investment under this programme is $639.5M. Additionally, under the road projects last year, $139M was spent.
In the Uitvlugt NDC, several roads have been completed at a cost of $125M.
The expansion of the Leonora scheme is expected to put additional pressure on the area’s existing well; however, due to the integrated water management system developed over the years, all wells within the area would be interlinked, so that the pressure volume would be spread out and not be loaded on the one system. The capacity to supply this area would not be affected.
Leonora is an area that has seen tremendous investment, with a new Technical Institute built at a cost of $427M, and a large investment in a new multi-purpose, synthetic athletic track, for which the foundations have already been laid.
A new Diagnostic Centre, erected at a cost of more than $110M, a Magistrate’s Court, and the new Leonora Secondary School that cost $293M, are all part of the massive developmental works in Region 3. (GINA)