RESIDENTS of Sisters village, East Bank Berbice now have easier access to their farmlands, following the construction of a timber bridge by members of the 4 Engineers Battalion.

According to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the new 16×40 feet structure replaces an older one which had proven inconvenient for the passage of tractors entering the rice, cash crop and cattle rearing areas.

The ranks, led by Staff Sergeant Kwamina Whyte, began working on the project in January 2023, and are currently adding the final touches before officially handing over the bridge for full use by residents.

Staff Officer One- Plans and Supervision, Lieutenant Colonel Kennard Liverpool visited the ranks recently to conduct an assessment of the project’s progress.

Samuel Seelall, a resident of the village who was on hand during that assessment, expressed his satisfaction that a new bridge has been built. Seelall, a plantain farmer, explained that the old bridge was unusable, particularly during the rainy season due to its height which cause tractors and other vehicles to slide.

“This one has good height and so the tractors will be able to go over better. It will be easier to get to my farm,” he said.

This bridge project falls under the Government’s Community-Based Initiative being executed by the Government Project Engineer’s Office, spearheaded by Brigadier (Ret’d) Gary Beaton.

The initiative, currently in its third year, forms part of President Irfaan Ali’s vision of a more community-oriented military.

The highly qualified and skilled ranks working on the project have completed several other projects under the initiative, in various parts of the country.