By Margaret Burke

JOBS and more jobs are being made available even as Guyana enter into the dawn of vast economic development at this time. The government of the APNU+AFC coalition, being ever conscious of this fact is investing heavily on expanding roadways, building bridges, stellings, culverts and improving drainage and irrigation.

New construction or renovation works are also being done on buildings in an effort to expand the health sector; widen the gateway to education; increase trade; develop more industries, for example agro-processing, which is on the rise, and many more.
In addition to roads and other infrastructural work, Internet hubs and radio stations are some other facilities which are also serving to stimulate and sustain economic and social development. Additionally, this is a time when there is increasing demand for movements from farms to markets, through communities, regions and town. Networking and linking residents and communities has therefore become a crucial aspects to socioeconomic development and growth.

After all, in the middle of this year a Nasdaq Report stated that Guyana has been named the fastest growing economy in the world. The Report added that this country’s growth rate is expected to be 33.5 percent in 2020 and 22.9 percent in 2021.

Roads and revetment
There have been many road works executed over the past four years. These include the East Coast Demerara four-lane road, as well as renovation works on other parts. In addition, there has been major works done within the Sophia community; four roundabout settings in Kitty, Linden, Lethem and Timehri; upgrade of University of Guyana internal road, as well as Carifesta Avenue. Roads in Region Seven; concrete roads in Mabaruma and Madhia; Port Kaituma; Number 19 public road in Corentyne; the Linden-Lethem road; the West Coast Demerara improvement project; emergency works on the Linden-Wisroc road.

Government invested $328 million in the construction and rehabilitation of the Bartica-Potaro road, Region Seven. This road is now being outfitted with LED lights to ensure the safety of residents who commute from Four Miles to Five Miles in Region Seven.

In Phase One, construction and rehabilitation works were done on 200 metres of roadway, also revetment work. Phase Two saw the completion of some 500 metres of road, while 1000 metres of the road was completed upgraded.

According to a 2017 Report of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) – GY-L1031, Sophia is a community with an estimated population of some 32,000 residents; it also has a very youthful population, with 75 percent of its residents being under the age of 35 years of age.

Soon after the coalition government took the reign of office in 2015, the Sophia community was one which gained the government’s attention and so they went into action. In terms of roads, construction of several kilometres of asphalt and concrete roads, access bridges, culverts, concrete drains, sidewalks, streetlights, and the construction of two community centre and playfields are all being realised – some have already been completed, while other are nearing completion.

“One of the things that was really loud coming out of Sophia in 2017 would have been the insistence on the residence of Sophia benefitting from employment from the project in no less than 30 percent,” and this has been realized, according to Ms. Bess-Bascom of the Central Housing and Planning Authority.

This road is now providing over 125 residents within the community with easy access to their farms, with some 40,000 acres of rice land and 10,000 heads of cattle. Residents have spoken of reduced cost of both production and transportation, among other benefits.

This $431 million four-door sluice, located just a few hundred feet from the Berbice Ricer Bridge was constructed by the government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Agriculture. The sluice, which is almost completed is said to be a ‘game changer’ for the residents of the community, especially farmers, since it will provide drainage for over 16,000 acres of low lying agricultural and residential lands between the Berbice and Abary Rivers.

The village of Sand Creek in Region (Nine-Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) received potable water for the first time in its history.
The well, which was dug by Brazilians is a 272 feet facility and can supply water to more than a 1000 residents at any one time. It is the first of its kind in the hinterland and this well can provide water to at least four times the village.
This is one of many such government venture to provide potable water for residents in all parts of Guyana.

Education is the ‘key’ and the government is doing everything possible to ensure that the children in schools are safe and secure

“…We should be in a position to offer support, if parents really need support and teachers as well, because a lot of the time we have parents and teachers that require some amount of psychosocial counselling and welfare support,” Minister of education, Hon Dr. Nicolette Henry as she commissioned the mobile units.

Recreational facilities
The project is a collaboration between the Regional Administration, the Ministry of Communities and the Ministry of Social Cohesion and is being built on 5.4 acres of land at Onverwagt at a cost of some #148 million.

At the conclusion of these two parks many of young within this community will get permanent employment, while many have are now employed for the creation of the parks. These parks are being constructed with the residents of all ages in mind. They are intended to provide safe and useful spaces for sporting activities, as well as other social engagements.

The cashew Grove Park is located in the new township of Lethem, Region Nine. This park, which came out of a signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of natural resources and Conversation International.  It is meant to be a recreational space for the residents within Lethem and extended communities.