-Minister Edghill

GOVERNMENT’S plan to construct a road linking Regions Six and Ten is expected to bring enormous benefits to those working in the mining and agriculture sectors.
This is according to the Minister of Public Work, Juan Edghill, who was a guest on NCN’s Insight programme which was aired on Saturday.

Minister Edghill disclosed that increased activity is anticipated following the removal of VAT on mining and agriculture equipment. It was this that prompted the plan to construct this much-needed connector road, which will allow for the easier transport of the persons in these sectors, he explained.

He said that the road link will also give persons better opportunities to benefit from their respective business ventures.
“From Kwakwani to Orealla, that is linking Region Six and Region 10. That is a road that some people listening to this project don’t even imagine how it would work, but it would benefit enormously people in the forestry sector, people in the mining sector that are moving all the way from Kwakwani to Orealla,” said Edghill.

Additionally, Edghill said that there are several other major road networks that will be undertaken by government, including a new road from Schoonard to Parika and an additional four lanes along the West Coast Demerara (WCD) corridor. He said this would allow persons on the WCD corridor to travel with ease to their places of business, work and home. He added that this would also promote business and job opportunities in the WCD area.

Minister Edghill also disclosed the plan for the Del Conte road from Parika to Goshen which he said will open up new areas for agriculture, which is crucial given government’s plans to incentivize plantation-type agriculture.

Meanwhile, construction of the UK-funded Linden to Mabaruma road will begin early next year, the minister said, adding that the East Coast-East Bank road link is tied to an ambitious hinterland road project.

“The interior roads it’s a real ambitious programme because people have to be able to get out and work and get back home. People must be able to move goods to those areas, by way of trucks and haulers and if we can’t move them then we can’t get the jobs that are needed and the economy will suffer,” Minister Edghill stressed.

Last week, the minister held discussions with several road contractors whom he described as partners in Guyana’s development. During the engagement, he outlined to the contractors what is expected of them, going forward, and urged that they ensure the services they offer are efficient and effective.