MAJOR plans are in store for the people of Corriverton with the Mayor and Town Council seeking to access national and international funds to construct a farmers’ market and family park.

Already, the town, which lies at the mouth of the Corentyne River, opposite Nieuw Nickerie, Suriname, is benefiting from millions of dollars in infrastructural projects, which commenced in 2016, including a $16.9M wharf.

For 2017, it is the intention of the municipality to access funds through the Government’s Community Infrastructure Improvement Project (CIIP) for the construction of a ‘green’ family park in Number 75 Village.

An application has been made and the Council is awaiting approval.

At an international level, the Corriverton Mayor and Town Council is hoping to secure financial support from the Japanese Government to construct a farmer’s market. The project proposal was submitted to the Foreign Affairs Ministry last Friday.

In 2016, the Council, under the leadership of Ganesh Gangadin, the then mayor, collaborated with the Public Infrastructure Ministry and the Ministry of Communities to roll out a number of infrastructural projects.

Gangadin served for a period of one year. His tenure as mayor came to an end on March 31, 2017.

However, before demitting office, Gangadin with the support from the Council, lobbied Government through the Public Infrastructure Ministry for a new wharf to be constructed in the town.

The $16.9M wharf will significantly reduce the hardship faced by farmers, loggers and even residents, who live and work upriver in communities such as Orealla, Gangadin explained during a recent interview.

BETTER LIFE
“Prior to this wharf being built, persons would have had to depend on the mercy of the tide before they land or moor their boats,” he pointed.

Gangadin added that it was often a very difficult venture, with boat captains and their passengers being “stuck in their boats for hours awaiting the tide”.

Recognising the hardship faced by the residents and workers alike, Gangadin said while as mayor, he made representation to the Public Infrastructure Ministry to have the wharf built.

Much to the Council’s satisfaction, the National Assembly in 2016 approved $25M for the construction of the wharf. It was recently completed at a contractual sum of $16.9M.

However, the former mayor said that there is room for improvement, explaining that the Council, in the not so distant future, is looking to erect storage facilities at the wharf to rake in revenues.

He said with storage facilities in place, farmers would be able to store their produce in rented compartments.
“The design of the wharf caters for future expansion. Take it out about another 100 feet, where there will be no interference at all; we still have some interference by the tide but minimally,” he further posited.

While the wharf has been completed and is being used by some, it is not in full operation. However, it is soon to be handed over to the municipality following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

COMMERCIAL ZONE
Additionally, the Council is hoping to transform that area into a commercial zone, comprising a boardwalk and a restaurant, with the use of a British grant, for which the Council is currently awaiting approval.

The former mayor noted that once transformed into an economic hub, the Council will be able to garner revenues double-times the amount of rates and taxes collected.

“Potential revenues from this venture will outweigh the rates and taxes,” he emphasised.

A part from the wharf, a $14.7M walkway was constructed in the vicinity of the Number 78 Public Road. Additionally, through CIIP, the Council has done extensive drainage and irrigation works to alleviate flooding in Cosbert.

Maintenance works were also done on 65 streets within the town, and there is additional material for more work to be executed. Several pieces of equipment were also purchased in 2016.