THE BASIC NEEDS Trust Fund (BNTF) will be rehabilitating roads in Samatta Point and Fyrish, using US$267,000. The multi-million dollar project, which will benefit more than 2,500 residents, is being funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) through a grant. On Wednesday, the government through BNTF awarded contracts to Courtney Benn Contracting Services Limited and N Lachman Business Establishment and Civil Works for the rehabilitation of a bridge and the upgrade of roads in Samatta Point and Fyrish.
Critical rehabilitation works on the main access bridge and roadways in Samatta Point on the East Bank of Demerara will be executed by Courtney Benn at a cost of G$32.5M.
These works include repairs to the bridge, upgrading the road surface to asphaltic concrete, constructing clay shoulders and speed humps and desilting roadside drains.
Meanwhile, residents of Church and Sixth Streets, Fyrish Village, Corentyne, will also benefit from a Double Bituminous Surface Treatment (DBST), finished with Sand Seal road network, north of the Corentyne Highway.
N Lachman Business Establishment & Civil Works was awarded the contract to the value of G$22,140,000M
BNTF Project Manager Michael Singh signed both contracts. Finance Secretary in the Ministry of Finance Dr Hector Butts witnessed the signing on behalf of the government.
Dr Butts, in delivering brief remarks, reminded the contractors of government’s demand for high-quality work and efficiency of service. He also assured the contractors that they were welcome to bid for similar as well as the larger infrastructural development projects that government plans to implement.
The projects were identified by BNTF under its 7th cycle Community Access and Drainage Sector Portfolio, and are expected to be completed by May 31, 2016.
The CDB provides financing for social and economic infrastructure such as schools, road and water projects, building more disaster-resistant structures, community skills training and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.
It has engaged the services of CEMCO Inc to provide architectural and engineering services for the design and supervision of the projects.