…MP Adams tells House some $6.3B budgeted to continue development agenda

ASIDE from the commencement of preparatory works for the new four-lane Demerara River Bridge, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three) residents can look forward massive infrastructural works to continue throughout the region in 2019, particularly in the education and health sectors.

Some $6.3 billion has been allocated to the region for next year. That represents a $943.5 million increase from the 2018 budget allocation.

“Region three has done exceptionally well over the last reporting period. We will see major development in every sector and every part of Region Three,” promised Regional Member of Parliament (MP), for the APNU/AFC John Adams, as he delivered his presentation during the opening day of the budget debates on Monday.

“This APNU/AFC government will deliver on our promises and they can rest assured that no one will be left out. We will transform the economy, empower the people, build sustainable communities and deliver a good life to all,” Adams declared.

In his allotted 20 minutes, Adams outlined several of the projects that were executed in the Region over 2018, and how 2019 budget caters to sustain the region even further. Some of the new initiatives directly complement those that were done this year. Following the construction of a special needs school at Schoonord from funds allocated in the 2018 budget, the 2019 budget has allocated some $14 million to be used for the procurement of a bus, specially designed for the transportation of children with special needs and those who are differently abled.

Overall, some $135 million will be spent on education buildings in Region Three. This year saw works being done to extend, upgrade or build several new schools in the region, which has experienced massive population growth over the past few years with the coming on board of several housing schemes, including Belle West and La Parfaite Harmonie.

The Wales Primary School received a spanking upgrade this year after years of neglect, while the Vergenoegen Secondary School was extended and the Uitvlugt Secondary School saw the installation of gas lines at its laboratory. There was also the rebuilding of the Department of Education building, which was destroyed by fire in 2009.

The coming year is expected to see even more upgrades and new initiatives coming on stream. The region will not be left out of the recent announcement by the Minister of Finance Winston Jordan that several smart classrooms will be coming on stream. A school in the region is expected to be earmarked for the setting up of a smart classroom. There’s to be a reconstruction of the Bagotsville Primary School, and two blocks at the Leonora Primary.

This is in addition to the secondary school set to be constructed in West Minister, West Bank Demerara that the Ministry of Education has already signed a contract for.
Complaints by the region’s residents about the state of their roads have not gone on deaf ears either. Some $780 million has been budgeted under the Ministry of Communities for the construction and upgrading of roads in several communities across the country, including Belle West, where residents have been complaining continuously about the state of their roads for some time now.

Residents traversing the Nismes Old Road can also breathe a sigh of relief and expect works on a long overdue asphalted road to begin next year. Other areas that can expect road upgrades include Schoonord, Westminister, La Parfaite Harmonie, Zeelugt and Uitvlugt. Added to the roads are a number of bridges. Reinforced concrete bridges are to be constructed in Edingburg, Parika, and Hague Backdam.

In terms of infrastructure in the health sector, the West demerara Regional Hospital will be getting a concrete bridge, along with an extension of the out-patient clinic. The Leonora Hospital road will be done fully asphalted, and there will be an extension of the kitchen and laundry departments at the Leonora Diagnostic Centre. Construction of staff quarters at the Leguan Cottage Hospital is also expected to be done. “This will [provide] for our nurses and doctors who are sent to deliver healthcare and have to be away from the confines of their home,” Adams said.