Hundreds employed under Linden-Mabura Hill Road project

More than 100 Guyanese have found employment through the US$190 million Linden-to-Mabura Hill road construction project currently underway by Brazilian company Construtora Queiroz Galvao S.A.

Conducting his first inspection of the multi-billion-dollar project on Wednesday, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill expressed satisfaction with the progress the team has made so far, and noted that more employment opportunities would be created for Guyanese.
“We have more than 100 locals employed on the project. They have done the grubbing and the clearance up to 40 kilometres along the road. There is also some excavation work being done, and more than 80 pieces of equipment have been imported,” he explained, according to a DPI report.
According to a DPI report, Government has been investing heavily in the Upper Demerara-Berbice Region 10, and providing thousands of jobs for residents. Job opportunities have been made available in the housing and telecommunications sectors, as over 150 persons have gained employment under the Housing Ministry’s home construction drive in the mining town.
Hundreds more have been employed through the call centre initiative, with almost a thousand more taking advantage of the Government’s part-time jobs initiative.
The Linden-to-Mabura Road project is another avenue for economic advancement for residents and the region. Guyana signed the groundbreaking contract for the project in May this year, a venture which has been in the pipeline for decades.
Works Minister Edghill has said the road would generate economic activity, and is only one aspect of the larger plan to secure transformation across the country.
“We will have the proper reinforcement, and we will be able to get every vehicle through the corridor, from Linden through to Lethem, on a consistent basis.” Minister Edghill has said. The project is expected to last for three years, and would boost trade and open massive avenues for business ventures between Guyana and Brazil. The first phase of the project would see a two-lane highway being constructed from sand and dirt to an asphaltic concrete surface. The road would be approximately 121 kilometres long and 7.2 metres wide.
It will also include a cycle and pedestrian lane measuring 2 metres wide, along with 10 bus stops equipped with ramps for persons with disabilities.
Edghill was accompanied by Senior Engineer at the Public Works Ministry, Sherod Parkinson, Hinterland Engineer Jeffrey Walcott, Chief Engineer Ron Rahaman, and other technical staff from the Works Ministry.