Region Six completes 99% capital works
…remainder to be done shortly
THE Region Six Administration has expended $325,144,826 to complete 99% of its works programme for 2011. In his year-end review, Regional Chairman Zulfikar Mustapha recently told media operatives that he was satisfied with the execution of the capital and current projects for last year. The remainder is expected to be done by week end.
The evaluation took place at the Regional Boardroom last Thursday afternoon, during which the Chairman said $328,900 were budgeted for the past year; and of that amount, $109,581,871 had been expended for drainage and irrigation.
Mustapha stated that because of the improved drainage, there was no reported incident of flooding in the region. In addition, he said, officers are constantly in the fields monitoring the increased level of rainfall; but remarkably, there was no report of excessive flooding. A tractor and trailer and a number of motor cycles were also purchased in order that the D&I workers can better access the backlands.
The regional head reported that the sum of $58,505,334 had been spent on the ongoing community road projects. He noted that the East Bank Berbice thoroughfare, which is of major concern, will need a major funding of approximately $250M to rehabilitate.
The education sector received a total of $37,989,275 to enhance its buildings, while an additional $11,998,920 was expended on furniture. Mustapha said that with injection of the sum, it is expected that the recurring problem of insufficient furniture will be an issue of the past, as the Department of Education is expected to distribute furniture to the schools which are in dire need.
According to Mustapha, works were completed on Canje Secondary and Schepmoed Primary, and a Science Laboratory was completed at the Tutorial Academy Secondary School, amongst other projects.
Moreover, the health division in the region received an injectable sum of $40,500,000, from which a boat and outboard engine were purchased. These are accessible for riverine health workers, especially those serving the Canje River communities.  
In addition, an ambulance and a reconditioned vehicle were added to the fleet of vehicles currently used in health-care delivery in Region Six.
Meanwhile, in response to questions by the media concerning the accessibility of electricity and potable water for residents of Angoy’s Avenue, commonly referred to ‘Cow Dam’, a squatting area on the eastern fringe of the New Amsterdam township, Mustapha said, “We have had a meeting, not so long ago, with the residents of Angoy’s Avenue, regional manager of GPL, and myself, right here in this board room, and we have worked out a strategy on how to electrify the area.
“The Minister of Housing and Water has been exploring avenues in order that residents can attain titles for lands which were squatted on……. Despite an injunction by the New Haven Co-op Society, the government, which is a people’s government, has rehalibitated roads, constructed a health-care facility, and desilted the waterways.”
Mustapha, who has served his five-year term since his appointment as  regional head, though slated to be replaced, said he is satisfied with his accomplishments over the period, and is thankful to the citizenry and stakeholders for affording him the opportunity to serve one of the largest regions in the country.