THE Regional Administration of Region Six yesterday issued a statement in which it sought to point out obvious inaccuracies in an article published in the Kaieteur News on Saturday January 31st, 2015 under the caption: ‘Berbicians upset over substandard road work’.

The project highlighted in the article is in fact a ‘completed reinforced concrete culvert bridge’ built at a contract sum of $4,544,558.
Inaccuracies published are as follows:
1. One photograph used in the very short and un-researched Kaieteur News article is in no way related to the area or surroundings of the National Insurance Scheme, National Library nor the Basketball Court, New Amsterdam which are all adjacent to subject of this article.
Instead, the photo features what clearly appears to be the building of an NGO [Resource Centre] located many miles away at Miss Pheobe, Port Mourant, Corentyne. This seems to be a deliberate attempt to mislead the public with falsehoods and inaccuracies.
2. In reality the actual project executed was the construction of ‘a reinforced concrete culvert bridge’ as stated above, and NOT a road project. Additionally, shortly after the asphaltic capping [1½ inch thickness] was done it started to loose and the Regional Administration informed the contractor of the defects, corrective works were done since the project was still under the defects and liability period.
Further, within the last three years the Regional Administration said it has undertaken a number of public works projects within the township of New Amsterdam such as: building of footpath bridge at the Vyrman’s Erven Nursery School; construction of a reinforced concrete main access bridge at Vryman’s Erven; construction of timber bridge at Vryman’s Erven to Angoy’s Avenue; potholes patching of Main Street, New Amsterdam; rehabilitation of Tucber/Smythfield Road network; repairs to Strand Road and rehabilitation of a footpath bridge at Angoys’ Avenue, all to the satisfaction of the residents.

Regarding the erroneous Kaieteur News article, the Regional Administration said it was never contacted and as such views the article as “intentionally skewed and designed to satisfy the whims and fancies of people with ulterior motives aimed at embarrassing the Regional Administration”.
The Region Six RDC also said it remains open at all times to the general public and the media for clarifications on its functions and projects executed under the five programmes of the Administrative Region.
Regional Executive Officer of Region Six, Mr. Paul Ramrattan is urging all media operatives to diligently seek clarifications and confirm information regarding the Regional Administration rather than publishing unconfirmed information which is not in keeping with proper, responsible and professional journalism.
Regional Chairman, Mr. David Armogan in January this year at his end-of-year press briefing, reminded media operatives that they must always remain committed to balance and accurate reporting.
Following the trend of past years, the Chairman once again stated that the Regional Administration is resolute in its obligation to answering questions and providing information at any time regarding its mandate.
Above is a photo of the actual re-enforced concrete culvert taken on Monday 2nd February, 2015