Community contractors identified to execute $100M in works for Campbelltown

During a recent visit to Campbelltown, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo announced that $100 million has been set aside to upgrade several internal roads in Campbelltown, located north of Mahdia.
The investment will cater for the reconstruction of roads from laterite to concrete beginning from where the main access road ends and extend to the Village Office, covering 500 metres in length and 20 feet in width.

Additionally, curbs will be installed to mitigate challenges currently being faced by villagers as a result of poor drainage and irrigation.
During an engagement with the community on Wednesday as a follow up to the Vice President’s visit, Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill revealed that eight community contractors have already been identified and will soon be evaluated to spearhead the project.
To ensure all qualified bidders benefit, the project will be divided into multiple lots to maximise participation.
Edghill noted that the community-driven initiative is part of the government’s efforts to retain economic benefits within the village where major projects are being undertaken.
“These concrete works, with good advice and proper supervision, local people could get it done… all we need to do is to get your technical person so we can do the surveys, pick up the level, steak it off and then we will be able to start working. The model that we are using is that we give the work out in lots and everybody get the same rate. That rate that we are using is one that will make everybody smile,” the minister shared.
While addressing those gathered, Edghill also disclosed plans to construct a road heading to a main school in Campbelltown.
Engineers from the public works ministry and a few community members, have since been tasked to inspect the road and draft a design for the necessary interventions. This structure will cover 1.6-kilometre of thoroughfare.
“A priority for us is access to education and children’s attendance at school. I was told its about 1.6-kilometre, so immediately we will start the road in Campbelltown and then they will have to do the design of the road from the turn here all the way down to the school. That is going to be like three times the length of this section that we’re doing,” he added.
Also present at the community meeting was Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai and Local Government and Regional Development Minister Sonia Parag.
During her address, Minister Pauline Sukhai highlighting that, building the roads aligns with government’s broader commitment to infrastructural development across the country.
She added that, hinterland communities are seeing increased investments, with the public works ministry allocating $300 million annually for road maintenance in Amerindian villages.
“The roads in Mahdia definitely needs upgrading and investments. Our government is investing not only in the main connecting highways or connecting roads to various villages but they have now embarked on a phrase which allowed them to do some internal community road networks in the hinterland,” Sukhai explained. (G1)