-$96.1B allocation is significantly higher than 2021 sum

THE Ministry of Public works has been allotted the largest portion of the government’s historic $552.9 billion 2022 budget, one of the subject ministers, Deodat Indar, revealed on Sunday.

Minister Indar, who was a guest on the Department of Public Information (DPI)’s Budget in Focus programme said a total of $96.1 billion has been allocated to the ministry, which is responsible for the country’s infrastructure.

He explained that $88 billion of the sum will be for capital expenses, which will cover several major projects. Some $76.7 billion of this sum will be used for roads and bridges.

According to the minister, the remaining money will be used for the day-to-day operations of the ministry, which includes payment of wages and salaries.

In noting that the budget allocation was timely, he said that there is significant work to be done to improve the public infrastructure in the country.

The ministry’s budgetary allocation reflects a significant increase of the $25.6 billion which was allocated for roads and bridges in the 2021 budget.

“$76.7 billion is for roads and bridges and that is the main part…failing infrastructure. We had to put infrastructure where there’s no infrastructure so that money is really to do that,” Minister Indar stated.

In breaking down the $76.7 billion sum, he said that $49.2 billion will be spent on roads, while the remaining $27.5 billion will go towards bridges.

Also on the list of major works for 2022 is the construction of the new, fixed four-lane high span Demerara River Bridge at a cost of $21.1 billion. An additional $946 million has been budgeted for the rehabilitation and maintenance of the existing floating bridge.

The minister noted that significant monies were budgeted for bridges in hinterland communities including $4.1 billion for the re-construction of several bridges along the Kurupukari to Lethem corridor that will support the phased construction of the Linden-Lethem highway.

Further, to address the critical needs of bridges across the country, another $173.9 million has been budgeted for the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of bridges in areas such as Garden of Eden, Chateau Margot, Beterverwagting, and Cemetery Road.

ROADS
Meanwhile, with regard to road works, the $49.2 billion that has been allocated will cover the $8.3 billion rehabilitation of the Corentyne Main Road from Palmyra to Crabwood Creek; the $6 billion construction of the Linden-Mabura Hill Road; $3.4 billion for hinterland roads; $2.6 billion for the rehabilitation of the entire Soesdyke-Linden Highway; $2.3 billion for the East Bank-East Coast Demerara Road linkage between Ogle and Eccles and $1.1 billion to complete the Sheriff Street – Mandela Road Network and Expansion Project.

Additionally, some $15.2 billion will go towards the construction and rehabilitation of additional urban and community roads.

Further, works will also commence to widen and pave the East Bank Highway from Grove to Timehri for which $2.1 billion has been allocated.

During the reading of the Budget last Wednesday, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, said the allocation will play a pivotal role in the government’s plans to modernise the infrastructure and provide a more accessible commute to and from communities.

Dr. Singh noted that another extremely important intervention included in Budget 2022 is an allocation of $3.3 billion to finance the improvement and enhancement of the aesthetics of the environment across the coastland, with a particular focus on the capital city.

“It would be recalled that His Excellency, the President, spearheaded the launching of a major cleanup campaign in Georgetown just over a week ago. This programme will see several restoration projects and programmes being undertaken,” he stated.

AVIATION
Meanwhile, Minister Indar, in his comments during the DPI programme, noted that the government, in keeping with its plan to raise the standards of the local aviation sector and to improve accessibility across Guyana, has set aside $2 billion in Budget 2022 for enhancement works in this area.

This year, based on the budget, $600 million will be spent on the rehabilitation and maintenance of hinterland airstrips at Eteringbang, Karisparu, Paruima, and Ekereku Bottom.

The work to be done on those airstrips is intended to make them compliant with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority’s minimum engineering standards. Further, this will improve safety for travellers, aircraft and personnel using the airstrips.

He also noted that the government has emphasised modernising the Cheddi Jagan International Airport to fully comply with air transport standards required for a world-class international port of entry.

He highlighted that some $927 million for the construction and rehabilitation of additional facilities at the airport.

As of now, works include the rehabilitation of the international apron and construction of a taxiway; construction of an administrative building with conferencing facilities; offices for the airlines and other supporting agencies; a duty-free bond and the construction of a new office complex to accommodate CJIA’s employees.