THE People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration is making good on its promise to resolve the issues surrounding the delayed Leguan Stelling project.

On Wednesday, Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill said the government took a decision to source a new contractor during a visit to the island led by President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali.

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), Minister Edghill said, “As of yesterday [Friday] afternoon, we are going back out to tender to get a new contractor engaged, because we are seeking to put together what was done and what needs to been done, so we can have a smooth transition. The stelling is not going to be abandoned; I want to make that very clear. This is a high priority for our government, and we are going to get that stelling fixed.”

In February, the government terminated the $413.2 million contract for the rehabilitation of the stelling, after the contractor was repeatedly flagged for poor performance. Last month, Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, filed a $400 million lawsuit against the contractor.

ROADWORKS
Concerning the road upgrades for the community, Minister Edghill told residents his ministry is currently executing a review of all roads, countrywide, and ranking them according to priority.
“We want to be able to lift the standard. We want to be able to ensure quality; the durability of the roads here on the island of Leguan,” he said.
Budget 2021 allocates $23.7 billion to the rehabilitation and construction of roads. Through the miscellaneous roads programme, $9 billion has been set aside to enhance community roads.

CORE GROUP LAUNCH
Minister Edghill said Leguan residents would soon enjoy beautified surroundings with the establishment of a Citizens Organised for the Restoration of the Environment (CORE) group on the island.
“We will be working to ensure all of our public spaces, spaces where our children play, where the adults hang out and take recreation, where people go to exercise, it’s clean; it is properly lit, and it is kept in a manner that should showcase what Guyana is all about,” Minister Edghill said.
He pledged to both engage and employ the new CORE group within the coming week. The team will be provided with the equipment needed to execute their duties.

Minister Edghill also said that sea defences on the island will be an area of focus for the Administration; that engineers are set to visit the island to conduct assessments for work to be done.