-President Ali outlines infrastructure developments along Soesdyke-Linden Highway
-Agencies to present work plan on needs of citizens

THE development along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway is being coloured by the government to ensure that prosperity reaches both the current and future generations, President Dr Irfaan Ali has said.
During a community roundtable discussion on Friday last, the President informed residents and community officials of the potential and ongoing infrastructural developments that are aimed at enhancing their surroundings.

“…And as this development continues to evolve, you will get higher value lands here, you will get greater demand for land. So we have to ensure that the development and the building of the communities are done in a very systematic way, and one in which we can have discipline in the development phase,” the Head of State said.

As he emphasised the goal of building an environment that will foster development, the President said among the several infrastructure works is the Land of Canaan to Soesdyke highway. Last month, he announced that the Government of Guyana is actively pursuing financing options to facilitate the construction of a highway that will connect Land of Canaan to Soesdyke.

The President previously said that the third phase of the Mandela Road is now in the stage of evaluation, which would bring the four-lane road up to Land of Canaan and the government is already securing financing to take that road from the Land Canaan to the Soesdyke Highway.

“…The plans of the People’s Progressive Party are not short-term plans, there are long-term plans to make monumental changes in your life, to ensure that you, this generation, the next generation and the successive generation, all live in a position of prosperity.”

Further, he said that the government is working on regularising another 1,000 highway residents. Dr Ali further noted that 500 new house lots in the squatting area of the Soesdyke-Linden highway were also created.

Adding to this, the President said that another area, which has 100 acres of land, has been identified to launch a project that will target mostly single mothers.

With the shade houses at the back of the houses and some farmland in front of the properties, he emphasised that the farmstead designs would be unique. Additionally, he stated that they will be producing valuable long-duration crops. In addition, an increase in their income will enable single parents to meet their housing needs and improve their standard of living.

“This new project will target primarily those persons who’ve applied to the housing system, mostly single mothers. We want to target those single mothers because the program is not only about home ownership. This program goes far beyond home ownership. This is about livelihood, home ownership, empowerment and building prosperity for every single family. So we want to start with this pilot project, and then here on the highway and also nationally,” Dr Ali stated.

While the President listened to the concerns and commendations from residents, he told them that there would be an examination of bridges, roads and extension of schools to see what is needed.

By the end of next Friday, a work plan will be presented after agencies such as the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the Ministry of Housing and Water analyse the needs of citizens.