$7.1M contract signed for repairs of Monkey Mountain bridge, foot trail

The bridge and foot trail at Monkey Mountain, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), which leads to the mountain foot are set to undergo repairs to the tune of $7.1 million. Upon completion residents of Monkey Mountain and nearby communities will benefit.
In fact, the contract to facilitate the repairs was signed in the presence of Local Government and Regional Development Minister Nigel Dharamlall. Signing the contract on behalf of the community was its Toshao, Lincoln Abraham Singh.
Minister Dharamlall at the signing stated that rehabilitation work would not only enhance residents’ lives, but create jobs. This is in keeping with the Government’s manifesto promise to create employment and boost the region’s and the country’s economy.
“Our Government has committed to ensuring that we provide better physical development in different areas in every village, which is why these infrastructural works are set to commence soon. I can assure you that more resources for development will come to this community, among others in this region,” he told residents.
In light of this, Dharamlall urged the Toshao to ensure that quality work is delivered to the community while encouraging the contractor to make use of local materials for the work. The project is expected to commence soon.
“We expect quality work from you, but I want to also encourage residents to monitor these works, to make sure it is done in a way that you will be satisfied with.”
Additionally, Minister Dharamlall committed to employing six more persons as Community Enhancement Workers (CEWs) to ensure that the community’s infrastructure is preserved.
The CEWs work complement’s the Village Council’s and by extension, the Administration’s efforts to develop the community and the country as a whole. The CEWs are managed under the Community Infrastructure Improvement Project (CIIP), which began in 2014. The project’s mandate was changed in 2015 to decentralise resources to the Local Democratic Organs.
The CIIP also enables Neighbourhood Democratic Councils to provide services to communities, and to encourage citizens to pay their rates and taxes to facilitate the development.