$85.4M award to replace washed-away bridges

Region 8 flooding

The Communities Ministry has awarded four contracts totalling over $85.4 million for the construction of new heavy-duty greenheart bridges in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni). The new bridges will replace the ones that were washed away during the heavy flooding in the region during May-June 2016.

J&R General Construction Service received two contracts for the construction of bridges at Yawong and Maiparu, while Handel Garnett Construction Firm and Salim Yusuf Contracting Services would construct bridges at Kawa and Tusenen respectively.
During the May-June rainy season, unprecedented heavy rainfall caused major flooding in the region. The communities most-affected included Kaibarupai, Sand Hill, Chenapau and Waipa. The water rose as high as 15 feet in some places, and approximately 10 houses were washed away and more than 20 destroyed by water. The flooding also inundated hundreds of acres of farmlands, resulting in residents batting to get back on their feet eve today.
Kaibarupai was reportedly one of the hardest hit areas since the flash-flooding caused landslides which lead to the overtopping of the Ireng River, destroying everything in its path.
The Civil Defence Commission assisted the communities but was heavily criticised for their slothful response as Guyana’s Disaster Management Unit.