-transformational development to kick into high gear

THE NEW YEAR promises to be one in which the transformational development of Guyana will kick into high gear.

Firstly, constitutional reform is high on the agenda as an issue which was the promise of the Coalition Administration’s election campaign. Led by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, the process of nationwide consultation will commence and be done in every region, with over 100 sessions at which residents and citizens will have an opportunity to make their contributions and suggestions.

Exciting infrastructural projects are also on the cards. The long overdue paving of the Linden-to-Lethem trail will commence with phase one — the Linden-to-Mabura stretch, which is that portion of the trail that is notoriously in the worst condition, particularly during the rainy season, when portions of it become difficult to navigate and some areas of the trail break away, forming deep sinkholes.

Another decades-overdue road project is the building of the Parika-to-Goshen road, which will open up the vast East Bank Essequibo stretch and make travel to the coastland and Georgetown hassle-free for Barticians.

To get to Georgetown from Bartica now takes upwards of four hours altogether (travel from Bartica to Parika by boat and drive from Parika to Georgetown, plus waiting time). This will be cut down to under an hour, with a quick dash across the Essequibo River from Bartica to Goshen being followed by a straight drive from Goshen to the city.

Farmers in the area will also take far less time to get their produce to market, which will result in fresher produce in the stalls and supermarkets, and healthier eating for consumers.

Bridging of the Essequibo River at Kurupukari will also significantly reduce the travel time to Lethem. Currently, there is a pontoon service across the Essequibo River at Kurupukari, which is operated by a private company. The service is mostly reliable, but is time-consuming, and only a limited number of vehicles can be accommodated on each trip. A free-flowing bridge will revolutionise this aspect of the trip to Lethem, and cut down travel time considerably; as now travellers have to spend hours waiting at night for the daytime-only pontoon service to begin operating.

Work will also commence on the feasibility of a new bridge across the Demerara River. The Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) was commissioned in 1978 and is presently costly to maintain and operate for the thousands of persons from Regions 3, 2 and 7 especially, who use it on a daily basis. With large housing schemes at La Parfaite Harmonie, Tuschen and Zeelugt in Region 3, a reliable, high-capacity, high span bridge is a necessity to replace the floating, retractable DHB, which has to be closed daily to vehicular traffic to accommodate large ships going upriver in the Demerara for bauxite etc.

The continued rolling out of the Coalition Administration’s green agenda and the broadening of the ICT network are also integral components to setting the foundation of Guyana’s future as an oil-producing nation. There have been, and there will be, hurdles and mis-steps in the process; but Guyana’s future is exciting, and some difficult, unpopular and long-term actions are needed to set the stage. Citizens’ patience and understanding will be necessary, to avoid national anxiety and frustration that development is not being fast-tracked as quickly as many would like, after years of ad hocism as the national development strategy.