–Regional Vice-Chairman

REGIONAL Vice-Chairman of Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) Sheik Inshan Ayube has said that major road works on Leguan island have become necessary. The roads in several villages are in a deplorable state, he told the Guyana Chronicle. These include Enterprise, Blenheim, Maryville, Endeavour, Clairmont, Theirens and on the Long Road.
According to Ayube, there have been no allocations in the 2015 regional budget for road improvement in Leguan. In fact, the last time works were done on the island was in 2014 where a stretch of road was rehabilitated on the northern end.
“Residents are calling on the Ministry of Infrastructure to provide some help,” Ayube said.
Until the roads can be properly done, the Region Three Regional Vice-Chairman is suggesting that central government can assist with first grade crusher run stones to fill the large holes on the roads.

UPGRADES
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had announced that major road works, upgrades to sea defence structures and transport facilities were among the major infrastructural upgrades to be undertaken.
He said approximately $1.6 billion had been budgeted for the upgrade of the Sheriff Street/Mandela Avenue Road, making it a modern thoroughfare for Georgetown. Furthermore, a total of $1.2 billion had been budgeted for completion of that part of the East Bank Demerara Highway that provides improved transit from Providence to Great Diamond.
“The government also intends to create a bypass road linking Diamond, East Bank Demerara to Ogle on the East Coast Demerara. The new road will open up unutilised lands to support a modern housing scheme for 1,100 households, while creating new jobs for Guyanese, as well as establishing a more efficient link between the country’s two international airports,” Minister Jordan said.
Rural development will also materialise through investments of $544 million to upgrade community roads and bridges in the 10 administrative regions.
Similarly, a provision of $1.2 billion has been made to upgrade more than 28 km of farm-to-market access roads and bridges located in Laluni, Onverwagt, Parika and Ruby Backdam.