– as promised residents

TO access the other side of the Demerara River, which passes through their community, residents of Speightland, Mackenzie, will, very soon, no longer have to use a boat but can easily walk over a spanking new bridge that is currently being constructed.
The construction of the bridge is in keeping with a promise made to the community during one of the many government outreaches that were held in Linden earlier this year.
According to Speightland’s Constituency Representative Stephen Messiah, the residents had made urgent calls for the bridge to the ministers when they visited the community, and it was subsequently funded and executed by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC). Messiah said that the residents welcome the start of work on the bridge, and are anxiously awaiting its completion. “The bridge will be very beneficial to the residents,” he said. “They won’t have to cross over with boat anymore. What I’m seeing from this is that the community can become developed, because it’s easier access; it’s faster,” he added.

One Speightland resident who lives on the western side of the river said the bridge is a welcome development, as it will indeed give residents easier access to Central Mackenzie.
With Speightland being a predominantly farming community as well, it is expected that the bridge will allow farmers to better access markets in Mackenzie to have their produce sold. This means that agriculture will be boosted in the community as well, and will contribute significantly to the region’s wider mandate to become self-sufficient.

The construction of this bridge is the latest in a series of developmental projects that are of benefit to the residents of Speightland. Only last month, ‘Speightlanders’ were given a one-year permit by the government to utilise a waterfront plot of land for recreational and economic ventures. Earlier in the year, several residents were given a head start at poultry rearing thanks to the donation of 50 chickens and sacks of feed from Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs Sydney Allicock. The community’s main access road was also rehabilitated, thereby making commute easier for residents. Several government ministers have also visited the community since the first government outreach was held. Community Development Officer Kevon Lorrimer said that the development coming to Speightland is something that the community has never received, despite many promises made by the former administration. He lauded the efforts of the current government as a timely one, since the community’s main economic activity is farming. The new Regional Democratic Office is also being constructed in close proximity to the community, and this is also expected to big a big boost to the community.