THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Wednesday handed over a number of civil works projects that were completed in three communities to the relevant regional authorities. The projects, all Government of Guyana initiatives, were completed in collaboration with the GDF.
According to a release on the subject at hand, the projects were completed by a total of 60 troops from the GDF Engineering Corps working in three groups.
One of the projects involved the construction of a 40-foot lightweight-vehicle bridge at Catherine/Burma in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice). In addition to the construction of this bridge, the troops also raised the dam along a 100-foot stretch, and completed a 72-foot revetment to the northern section of the dam fronting the bridge.

Completed in just over four weeks, the bridge was handed over to Region Five Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal, who said that he was happy to have had the GDF involved in the region’s work programme, and expressed gratitude to the GDF Engineering Corps for completing the project and delivering a functional bridge to the community. The newly-constructed bridge provides access to residents in the immediate and surrounding communities, as well as to the fishing community that operates from the nearby Abary Sluice. Over in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), the former Information Technology building at the Port Mourant Sports Club Ground was retrofitted over a nine-week period. The facility now houses a well-appointed block of rest and changing rooms to accommodate both males and females, and has already been handed over to the groundsman, who is responsible for its maintenance.

Also in Region Six, a lightweight-vehicle bridge with a 70-foot span was constructed at Lesbeholden between January 18 and February 22.
Region Six Chairman David Armogan received the completed infrastructure, and expressed his gratitude on behalf of the region and the residents of the Lesbeholden community. He also said he welcomed the idea of having the GDF Engineer Corps involved in community development by contributing their skills to the benefit of the citizens. In handing over the facilities to stakeholder representatives, Project Engineer for the Government of Guyana, Brigadier Gary Beaton said that each of the foregoing projects fall within the scope of the vision of the army’s Commander-in-Chief, President Irfaan Ali to have the Guyana Defence Force become more community-oriented in its service to Guyana.

“I thank our Commander-in-Chief for his expression of confidence in the Engineering Corps and the GDF to engage these projects,” Beaton said, adding: “We are here in keeping with his vision for the Force to be more involved in the development of communities all across Guyana. It is anticipated that various Guyanese communities will see much more of the GDF Engineer Corps, as it undertakes and completes similar projects to these.”
In closing, he said: “With bridges in particular, these are significant symbols and real entities that foster connection, cooperation and harmony by bringing people and communities together. At the sites of these three projects, we were pleased and thankful for the support of the people; our soldiers developed real connections with the residents, and this is a positive offshoot for projects such as these. It is not just about the GDF going to communities to build physical structures; more importantly, it is about the residents and the communities building bonds, and experiencing the humanity of our military.”
In the construction of the two bridges, the materials were provided by the regional administrations.