DESPITE the  unprecedented parliamentary challenge of a minority government, coupled with  a  one-seat  majority  opposition that instituted threatening  budgetary cuts that were later deemed as unconstitutional by the courts, Guyana’s economy achieved real growth of 2.8%.  Significant performers were gold, rice and bauxite.
Giving highlights on the economy’s progress for the period under review, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh reported that overall growth has been projected at 3.8 %. He said further, that while the non-sugar gross domestic product expanded by 6.2%, its growth will be 3.9%
There was heavy investment during the first six months of the year in developing infrastructure. The allocation of $11.8 billion to sustain and improve roads and bridges network saw a sum of $2.7 billion being expended at the end of June with $2.5 billion being spent on roads and $255 M on bridges.

Infrastructure
Since infrastructure forms the pivot of most of the government’s socio-economic transformation programmes now taking place much has been achieved in this critical area in the first half of 2012.
According to Dr Singh, $370M was expended on the asphalting of 16 kilometres of all-weather roads in Black Bush Polder, and in East and West Canje, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne). This will facilitate access to over 18,500 acres of agricultural lands.
Urban, rural, community and hinterland roads were constructed, rehabilitated and maintained to the tune of $1.5B, while $451M was invested in the construction of access roads from Mabura Hill Road to Amaila Falls.
The important preparatory works for the expansion of the four-lane access road to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), as well as the similar extension from Providence to Diamond, and the widening of the highway from Better Hope to Golden Grove, attracted some $525M.
Other important infrastructure works done were commencement of reconstruction and rehabilitation of 20 critical structures from Belladrum to Rosignol, for a sum of $228M; the rehabilitation of pontoons and cluster piles that undergird the Demerara Harbour Bridge that cost $270M; while $950M was spent for the rehabilitation and levelling of earthen embankments of sea and river defences in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
A total of $11.2 M was spent for the maintenance of aerodromes in various hinterland communities. Preparatory works for the upgrade, expansion and modernisation of CJIA commenced including geotechnical investigations to support the final design of the project with civil works expected to begin in the last quarter of the year.
Rehabilitation of airstrips in Lethem, Imbaimadai and Ekereku Bottom will start in the third quarter of this year.
Over $146 M was expended for the docking of vessels and acquisition of spares while work to accommodate the operation of the two roll on roll off ferries on the Parika and Supenaam stellings progresses and it is anticipated that following test runs, operations will commence this month.