Roads and D&I -Region Three focus

Georgetown, GINA, March 12, 2007

Roads and drainage and irrigation (D&I) have received the largest budgetary allocations under the capital works programme in Region Three for this year in line with other regions’ focus of infrastructural development.
            Regional Chairman of Region Three Julius Faerber disclosed that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has undertaken to refurbish and build several streets in Essequibo Islands/West Demerara. These include roads in Uitvlugt, Vergenoegen, Leonora, Stewartville, Goed Intent, Sister’s Village and La Grange at a cost of $44M.
            Under the D&I work programme $33M will be spent on the excavation, construction and maintenance of D&I structures at Farm Village, Canal No1 Polder,  Zeelugt, Leguan and the Wakenaam Hospital.
            Bridges will be constructed in several areas in the region including at Ruby Backdam, Karia Karia, Phoenix, Leguan and Damburg, Wakenaam totalling $11.5M.
            A substantial sum has been allocated to the development of the social sectors. The health programme will be complemented with the construction of a health centre at Belle West, an x-ray department at the Leguan Cottage Hospital and a satellite clinic at Tuschen at a cost of $22M.
            This excludes the $4.5M that has been budgeted for the procurement of an automatic tissue processor for the West Demerara Hospital. This machine is designed to rapidly process tissue samples in laboratories by removing the water from a tissue sample and replacing it with paraffin wax. This is done with optimum speed to minimize tissue damage caused by dehydration and shrinkage.
            In the education sector, the Vreed-en-Hoop Primary and Leguan and Stewartville Secondary Schools will be extended. A primary school is also being built at Santa Mission. These projects will cost $29M.
            At present, the Greenwich Park Primary, East Bank Essequibo is under construction and is expected to be completed in about two months. This new facility which is funded by the Caribbean Development Bank at a cost of $65M will accommodate 900 students. The school will boast an administrative block, offices for headteacher and staff, a kitchenette, library, computer room and modern sanitary blocks.
            The acquisition of furniture and equipment for these and other educational facilities will cost $5M.
            The land and water transport programme of the region will be enhanced with the procurement of a tractor, a boat and an outboard engine totalling $10.6M.
            The improvements to infrastructural work in several housing schemes will be funded from the $19M allocated for land development.