The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali told a massive crown at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, that his party has great plans for the East Bank of Demerara corridor.
The PPP/C Presidential Candidate, Dr Irfaan Ali addressing the gathering at a rally held in Diamond
He noted that once elected at the upcoming polls, his Government will invest heavily in infrastructure especially to complete the Diamond, Ogle and Timehri bypass roads. He noted that this will relieve traffic congestion along the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara.
The securement of funds for this project was initiated under the Donald Ramotar-led Administration at a tune of $10.5 billion but during the budget presentation in 2019, the project was listed at a cost of $25.1 billion.
The project reportedly has three distinctive stages; Stage One – Detailed Project Report Preparation; Stage Two – Construction Supervision, and Stage Three – Post Construction/ Defects Liability Period, which the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition has been moving slowly to solve the daily woes faced by commuters.
However, Ali said that “we are going to fix it, I am assuring you that before the end of the first year in office, we will complete and put in that road so that you will have a secondary access all the way to Mandela.”
A section of the gathering at the rally in Diamond
He further lamented the slothfulness of the coalition in getting the project off the ground given the fact that the money is there to execute the project.
“This is not rocket science, this was a simple plan that connected all the communities on the East Bank and we left the money. It was our Government that negotiated the loan with the Indian Government and we left the money for the new highway from Diamond all the way to Ogle and guess what? They sat on the money and they did nothing.
“We will get that project going and build that new superhighway connecting not only Diamond but connecting our airport with the new superhighway all the way to the East Coast of Demerara,” Ali stated.
The PPP/C Presidential Candidate noted that these are holistic plans that would transform the East Bank corridor since it is a strategic location for major development which will see jobs skyrocketing.
“Our development for the East Bank is a holistic plan, the East Bank for us must be a new development frontier, a new development frontier that would sustain the creation of thousands of new jobs, thousands of new high paying sustainable jobs for you here on the East Bank,” Ali underscored.
He further stated that the PPP/C has a plan that will reduce the cost of living for residents, and put more money in the pockets of Guyanese.
“There is a plan, there is a vision for Diamond, Grove and the East Bank and that plan will see greater money in your pocket.”
Ali committed to ensuring that the East Bank corridor becomes a business hub, with residents being able to build and expand businesses.
“The new infrastructure lands landscape would see the opening up of many opportunities, commercial opportunities, opportunities for gas stations, supermarkets like I said manufacturing and commercial development.”
Currently, the East Bank Highway is the only exit route available to residents who occupy Georgetown, the East Coast of Demerara and the East Bank of Demerara.
The new road link will serve as a corridor for communities on the East Bank, including Perseverance, Mocha, Providence, Eccles, and Peters Hall. It will also provide a bypass from the city, where most traffic flows daily, resulting in massive congestion and major delays. (Shemar Alleyne)
