THE Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region 10 has spent approximately $480M in capital projects across all programmes in 2019, according to Regional Executive Officer, Orrin Gordon.

This represents more than 90 per cent of the projects budgeted for at the start of the year and those major projects that were not completed, monies allocated for same were spent via inclusion in other projects, thus avoiding monies being returned to the consolidated fund.

Gordon related that all projects tendered for at the level of the Regional Tender Board were completed, but there were some hiccups with projects that were tendered at the level of the National Tender & Procurement Administration (NPTAB), such as the Bamia Primary School. After realising this was not materialising fast enough, the RDC made a decision to transfer the funds to the construction of the Christianburg Primary School, which was equally needed. Despite the bidding and tendering process started late in 2019, the contract was awarded to the tune of $119 M and the project has commenced.

In addition, the construction of the Bamia Nursery School was awarded to the tune of $51M. The school, located in Third Phase Amelia’s Ward, is about 70 per cent completed. Another major capital project completed in 2019 was the construction of the Amelia’s Ward Health Centre, which was built to the tune of $30M. The school and health centre were constructed to offset the growing population of the Amelia’s Ward community and to compliment the two nursery schools and the one health centre in the community.

Under the education programme as well, the RDC purchased a $15M 30-seater school bus for students residing in Coomacka. Under public works, approximately $139M was expended on road construction and rehabilitation. Some of the roads that benefitted from this were Fraser Road Kara Kara, Victory Valley Access Road, Block 22 Access Road, Wisroc Access Road and Powis Cresent. $66.5M was expended on bridges and drainage and irrigation projects in several communities. A $13M bridge was constructed in the community of Speightland, which made ingress and egress easier for residents residing on the opposite side of the river.

Under buildings, the RDC also constructed two monuments honouring the Linden 2012 Martrys and the Son Chapman victims. The construction of the new RDC office in Speightland has also commenced to the tune of $102M.

A great effort was placed in boosting the health sector in the riverine and hinterland communities of Region 10. To the tune of $53M, health centres were constructed and rehabilitated. These include the construction of the Wiruni Health Centre, Mabura Health Centre, Ebini Health Centre, Great Falls Health Centre and Living Quarters at the Ituni Health Centre.

For the first time in 2019, a Regional Agriculture Programme was initiated and saw several projects being undertaken to bolster agriculture in the region. These include the resuscitation of the school agricultural programme, lending support to farming communities with the construction of shade houses and the holding of training sessions for farmers. One of the main agricultural projects however, was the first phase of the construction of the farm-to-market road from Millies Hide Out to farming communities in the Immediate Savannahs of Region 10. Over 100 farmers will benefit from the project. REO Gordon described 2019 as a successful year overall and spending of the $3.9B allocation was spread across all programmes, which no doubt has increased the standard of living for residents.