THE 2013 Mid Year Report documents the continued strong performance of the domestic economy, and projects the performance that will be sustained throughout the year. Based on the report, progress is being made with regards to the enhancement of the infrastructural sector.

With regard to infrastructure, the sum of $12.6B was allocated in 2013 to further improve the roads and bridges network. Of this amount, $2.8B was expended during the first half of the year with $2.5B being spent on roads and $306.2M on bridges.
Meanwhile, the sum of $746.2M was disbursed towards the completion of the four-lane access road to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the continuation of the East Bank Demerara four-lane highway and the completion of designs and studies for the Sheriff Street to Mandela Avenue roadway, the West Coast Demerara Road from Vreed-en-Hoop to Hydronie, Region 3; the highway from Better Hope to Golden Grove, Region 4;  the 14 kilometres of farm to market roads at Parika and Ruby, Region 3; the four-lane highway from Diamond to Timehri; the East Bank Berbice Road, Region 6; and the Canals Polder roads in Region 3.
Further, a sum of $1.6B was expended for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, upgrade and maintenance of rural, community and hinterland roads in all the Regions including the Mabura Hill to Amaila Falls road. The sum of $282.9M was disbursed for the continued reconstruction and rehabilitation of 20 critical structures from Belladrum to Rosignol, West Berbice.
The report states that discussions continued on the options for constructing a new bridge across the Demerara River. To this end, a draft pre-feasibility study was completed during the first half of the year. During the second half of the year preparatory works will commence for the design of a parallel secondary road to the East Bank Demerara Highway to ease congestion.
During the first half of the year, the sum of $11.9M was spent for maintenance of the existing 43 airstrips in Regions 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9, and an additional $62.7M was expended for the procurement of spares for ships and vessels.
Moreover, preliminary designs for the upgrade, expansion and modernisation of the CJIA were completed, and infrastructural works are scheduled to commence in the second half of the year.

RIVER & SEA DEFENCE
The first six months saw $306.9M being disbursed for the strengthening of sea and river defences in critical areas in Regions 2 to 7.
In addition, 50,000 mangrove seedlings were replanted and mangroves were restored in Wellington Park, No 6-8 Villages Corentyne, Victoria and Le Ressouvenir/Felicity.
During the second half of the year, replanting of mangrove seedlings will continue in areas such as Devonshire Castle, Lima, La Belle Alliance, Richmond, Anna Regina and Kilmarnock.