–as gov’t moves to curb carnage on the roads

PLANS are afoot to do something about the carnage on the roads, and according to Finance Minister, Mr Winston Jordan those plans will include, for starters, the placement of a number of pedestrian over-passes at strategic points along the East Coast and East Bank Public Roads.

Addressing the House Monday during the presentation of the 2017 National Budget, Minister Jordan said:
“Mr. Speaker, in spite of the huge investments in our road transport network, the number of fatal road accidents remains alarming; it has reinforced the need to improve road safety practices.

“As a means of promoting pedestrian safety while improving the flow of traffic, we will construct the first ever pedestrian over-passes in the country at Liliendaal, Houston, Eccles, and Peter’s Hall, as well as the first ever vehicle overpass at the Diamond main access road.”

In addition to the foregoing interventions, the Finance Minister said the National Road Safety Education Guidance Document and Best Practice Guide has been completed, and will be adopted by the Ministry of Education for incorporation into the school curricula in 2017.

INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING
According to the minister, the government has allocated some $37.2B towards shoring up the country’s infrastructure spending, while the government pursues other financing options for large-scale transformative projects.

The sum at reference, Minister Jordan said, is an improvement by some $7.4B on the current fiscal year’s allocation.

He told the House that under the 2017 Budget, $14.1B have been allocated to the continued development and maintenance of roads and bridges, and that of this sum, $2.3B have been earmarked for capital projects in the hinterland.

Targeted interventions include the Port Kaituma Road, from the airstrip to the Fitsburg Housing Scheme in Region One (Barima-Waini); the Issano Road and Karrau to Buckhall Roads in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); the Karasabai to Monkey Mountain Roads in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); and the Aishalton Junction to Shea Roads in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Jordan also disclosed that approximately $262.5M will be expended in 2017 to prevent the further deterioration of the existing road network in the hinterland.

RIVER TRANSPORTATION
Meanwhile, efforts will continue to improve river transportation, and next year will see some $294M being spent on the rehabilitation of the stellings at Bartica, Supenaam, Mazaruni, Morawhanna, New Amsterdam and Rosignol.

In addition, about $240M have been allocated to the reconditioning of MVs Malali, Sandaka, and Lady Northcote, while an additional $295M will be used to purchase a barge and to dry-dock several vessels. The continued maintenance and upgrading of these stellings and vessels, the minister said, will facilitate a normalised and safer flow of private and commercial traffic across our waterways.

Said Minister Jordan: “Mr. Speaker, our sea and river defences remain as critical to our safety and future as ever, given the effects that climate change is having across our country. As a result, we have allocated a total of $2.5B towards the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of sea defence infrastructure in Regions Three, Four, Five, and Six.”