The North Rupununi village of Aranaputa is expected to benefit from significant infrastructural works including a $30M upgrade of the community centre ground there next year.
Aranaputa has been home to many residents of indigenous and coastland roots, stretching as far back as the 1930s and in recent years, the village has suffered several setbacks, including in the furtherance of its economy, mainly the advancement of its peanuts and peanut butter projects.

In the 2018 national budget, government has set aside a sum of $317M for the Ministry of Communities project termed Community Infrastructure Improvement Project (CIIP)).
As the name suggests, infrastructural works will be undertaken in several areas across the country and last week during consideration of the budgetary estimates, Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan told the National Assembly that Aranaputa will be the beneficiary of several projects in the new year.

The village is currently in transition mode from having its affairs administered by a Community Development Council, to that of a Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).
During a visit to the village during the second quarter of 2017, residents told this newspaper that they were eagerly anticipating the village’s imminent NDC status.
It was noted during the recent debate that the roads at Aranaputa, which is home to some 600 residents, will benefit from upgrading works, while the nursery and primary education institutions will benefit from the construction of new sanitary blocks.
The National Assembly last week approved $2.37B for Region Nine (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo) for the new year and of that total a sum of $234.2M will be expended for regional administration and finance,$329.4M for public infrastructure, $563.6M for health services and $83.8M for agriculture.
As regards the latter, the town of Lethem will benefit from construction of an agricultural centre and reservoir at Lethem. A sum of $265M has been allocated in the 2018 budget for the project.

The region will also see the establishment of the Lethem Town Hall, a project which also falls under the CIIP. That project is being considered with a budgeted allocation of $42M.
Meanwhile, Minister Bulkan told parliamentarians that several landfill sites are in the works for the new towns of Lethem ($36M), Bartica ($19) and Mabaruma ($43M).
As regards the site at Mabaruma, the minister noted that no unilateral decision has been made regarding the site at Khan’s Hill in the Region One town which is being considered for the landfill. Opposition MP, Collin Croa,l had raised questions on the proposed site.
Reports are that several persons may have to relocate from the immediate environs of the identified area.

Minister Bulkan also informed the National Assembly that in 2018 the much anticipated “WIFI” bus stops will come to fruition. He said the networks will be made available at 10 sites, each in the country’s administrative regions. He said the local democratic organs will have to be consulted regarding the sites which will be specifically identified.