– as 31 leaders receive $30M contracts

THIRTY-one village leaders from Regions Eight and Nine were awarded Community Participation Contracts (CPCs) worth approximately $30 million on Saturday at the Ministry of Public Works boardroom.

With a total of $930 million in contracts awarded, this will significantly expand the villages’ capacity to maintain and improve their internal roads and bridges.
This initiative follows Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent engagements with village leaders at the 2026 National Toshaos Council Conference.
The projects were identified and will be implemented by the communities, thus creating local employment, strengthening community capacity, and ensuring that public investments respond to residents’ needs.
Delivering remarks at the simple contract signing ceremony, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Works, Vladim Persaud said the investment will enable villages to undertake larger infrastructure projects while improving access between communities, particularly during emergencies.
In addition to the contracts, the government will invest a further $1 billion in equipment across seven clusters in Region Eight.
Another $50 million will be invested in training to equip community members with technical skills to undertake larger road maintenance projects.
The ministry will also fund a road safety initiative, including the installation of reflective road and bridge signs.
It will also be introduced in other hinterland regions, including Regions One, Seven and Nine.
This initiative is being advanced through the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Public Works, and the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs. [DPI]