TWO recently-completed sea defence projects totalling $627M were on Sunday commissioned on the Essequibo Island of Leguan by the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government.

With the strengthening of its sea defences, the island of Leguan, located in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) is now better able to hold off the surging waters whenever there is a high tide.

Work on the hundreds of metres of riprap-type of structure form part of a $334M (US$1.6B) Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)-funded project at Success.
On Sunday, Finance Minister Winston Jordan commissioned the project, which was completed last month.

“This is a multi-billion-dollar project with the support of the Caribbean Development Bank, designed to keep our ocean away from the lands of Leguan. This goes to show what we have been saying, that the government is interested in developing not only areas that voted for it, but the entire country,” he told the Department of Public Information (DPI).

The minister said the initiative was undertaken with residents in mind. “It’s all about the people who live on this island, and who make a living off this island. So I am extremely grateful to have been able to come here and see the project, and cut the ribbon to open it.”
On the other side of the island, in the community of Endeavour, Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally and Mayor of Georgetown, Pandit Ubraj Narine commissioned the other half of the sea defences protecting the island. That project was valued at $293M (US$1.4M).

Constructed by BK International, the project, which is located on the eastern side of the island, was also funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and entailed the construction of a 300-metre- long riprap embankment.
As part of the visiting team’s mission, a newly-established one-kilometre stretch of embankment which connects the communities of Endeavor and Amsterdam was also declared open.

Following the two commissioning exercises, Minister Ally and Mayor Narine spent time interacting with residents over at the Leguan Secondary School in Blenheim. During the interaction, the Social Protection Minister reiterated that the Coalition is committed to serving all Guyanese.
“Whether you are supporting the Coalition Government or not, our duty as a government is to serve you.”

She reminded residents that President David Granger has mandated the “good life” for all. According to Minister Ally, the time has come when every Guyanese has to “take time out” to analyse the many developments in the country, and acknowledge that it is the APNU+AFC Coalition which stabilised Guyana’s economy.

In his remarks, Mayor Narine noted that it was also the Coalition Government which returned democracy to Guyana, providing opportunities for residents to choose persons from their communities to make representation on their behalf. He also offered this advice to the young people at the meeting. “Do not listen to negative talks, but make wise choices today and continually… I want to let you know that the government cares for you, and will ensure you have the necessary tools to succeed.” (DPI)