THE regional administration of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) is gearing up to spend significantly increased allocations in the public works and education sectors this year.
Regional Executive Officer Mr Ovid Morrison earlier this week, pointed specifically to major increases in allocations for the region in the two sectors, saying that pupils, residential communities and farmers in the crops and livestock sector can expect significant improvements in the related services.
He said that the sum available for expenditure on capital works in the education sector in Region Five this year is $145M, compared to $85M last year, a 70% increase on 2017.
The sum available for expenditure on capital works in the public works sector in Region Five this year is $155M, compared to $107M last year, an increase of 45% on 2017.
Public works will include upgrades of several community roads in villages in West Coast Berbice and in Mahaicony from earthen dams and crusher run roads, to asphaltic surfaces. This will allow residents easy access to the main road and public and recreational facilities and connecting streets, especially during rainy weather.
To further enhance its service in providing good-quality roads, the regional administration will spend $16M on a semi-pneumatic roller and $8M on a bitumen distributor, which will facilitate quick maintenance of the many upgraded community roads in the region.
The rationale, the REO said, is that the RDC has been plagued with complaints of potholes on numerous streets throughout the region and as such, had decided to request approval for the purchase of a roller. The equipment will execute minor works to prevent deterioration that would subsequently require major capital equipment.
The bitumen distributor will also add to the current fleet of a mini excavator and a bobcat.
In the area of education, sums allocated will be spent on major rehabilitation works on schools throughout the region. Sums will also go towards two new nursery schools and reconstruction of the primary school at Champayne, Mahaicony, among others, Morrison disclosed.
The total amount of money available for current and capital projects in Region Five this year is $3.2B. The sum of $2.8 B is going towards current expenditure, and $415M will go towards capital expenditure.
The allocated sums under current are education delivery ($1.6B) regional administration and finance ($174M), agricultural development ($212M) public works ($174M), health services ($689M).
The sums allocated to capital expenditure are: education delivery ($145M), regional administration ($2.2M), agricultural development ($60M) public works ($155M) and health services ($2.6M).
Morrison disclosed that contracts have been awarded for several projects and contractors have begun work on their projects. He said that bids will be invited from qualified contractors for many other current and capital projects, during the course of this month.
