Over $1B to be expended on roads in Westminster, surrounding communities

…preference to be given to small contractors – Pres Ali

…Black Belly sheep project in Den Amstel finds success

The government is planning to spend almost $1.5 Billion on roads in at least three communities on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD), with President Dr. Irfaan Ali assuring that preference will be given to small contractors in an effort to ensure the works are completed in a timely fashion.

The president was at the time conducting an outreach to Parfaite Harmony, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) on Sunday, where he met with and explained to the residents the government’s plans to spend over $1 Billion on roads in three communities – Onderneeming, Westminster and Recht-Door-Zee.
“So, we have, between Recht-Door-Zee, Onderneeming and Westminster, in those three areas alone, with the roads that we are picking up on the 75 per cent occupancy, we’re talking about an investment of over $1 Billion, in these small roads. Because it’s a lot of roads.”
“We’re working now on getting the region and so on to get short lists. Because we want to use the smaller contractors, so we can get it done quickly. And we’ll do the concrete roads,” President Ali said.
With this in mind, the head of state explained that government engineers and other technical staff would be returning during the week, to continue the planning phase of these roads and do a survey of the area that would determine
“So that’s what they’re coming back to do this week. They’re going to complete the design of the network. Do the survey, on where we have the occupancy, so we know where the priorities are. And we’re talking, in this area, an investment of over $1 Billion. In those three areas. It will be close to $1.5 Billion,” the Head of State added.
Last year, the PPP/C government some $60.7 Billion for the construction of community roads across the country. In this year’s budget, as much as $73.2 Billion has been budgeted for works on thousands of community roads.
In November 2023, Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal had revealed that under the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme (AHUAP), approximately $900 million has been expended to construct several thoroughfares and drainage structures in the Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme

Water
The President also addressed the Guyana Water Incorporated’s (GWI) provision of water and water quality concerns of residents, explaining to them that efforts are currently ongoing to construct new wells.
“The drainage and irrigation engineers are here. They will go through with you all and I know also we have one issue with the water. The low pressure now, is because of the size of the network. We’re now doing a new well,” President Ali said.
An engineer meanwhile provided an update on efforts to improve the provision of water in the area and the construction of a water treatment plant. According to the engineer, the water treatment plant is being built at Lust En Rust and will include the drilling of two new wells.
It was explained that in addition to the new wells, GWI will also use two of the existing wells in the areas to transmit water from to supply the plant, which is 65 per cent completed and expected to be finished by December.
Meanwhile, the transmission lines themselves are 95 per cent completed and, according to the engineer, will be finished by the end of July. The engineer also explained that once the plant and other interconnection work and network updates is completed, residents will receive treated water.
Last year, GWI Chief Executive Officer Shaik Baksh had revealed that six additional water treatment plants would be built on the coast, including the Lust En Rust plant. In total, GWI had plans to construct 13 new water treatment plants that would cost $32 Billion.

Den Amstel
President Ali and his team also visited Den Amstel on the WCD, where they met with residents and heard their concerns. These concerns were related to roads and drainage, with the President promising that same will be or is already in the process of being addressed.
For instance, he explained that a contract for works on the main road in Den Amstel has already been awarded and should be signed soon.
The President also recalled that commitments were made for various projects within Den Amstel and according to him, most of these projects have already been completed. There are also community-based initiatives that the President requested updates on, such as the availability of land.
Complaints were also made by farmers about the paddy bug infestation, with the President making arrangements to have extension officers visit the community to make interventions that would help the farmers.
The President also committed to assisting residents in the community to expand their agricultural projects, including with pig farming and the provision of a shade house. President Ali was informed of the success of the government’s previous intervention to supply black giant chickens to farmers in the community.
“In keeping with your vision 25 by 2025, we would like, as a young livestock farmer, assistance to get some black belly sheep, pigs and some more chickens. Persons in the community were very grateful… if you could see those chickens now. Persons are really grateful for them,” one resident said.
The black belly sheep initiative is part of a collaboration between Guyana and Barbados, which saw the breed of sheep, native to Barbados and primarily raised for meat and other high-demand by-products, being shipped to Guyana.
The first cargo of 132 sheep including 20 rams and 112 ewes, landed in Guyana in August, 2022. The programme was launched with an estimated $600 million (US$3 million) investment from the administration. Earlier this month, it was reported that 300 more sheep are expected to be sent. Barbados has agreed to send a total of 1,000 sheep to Guyana. (G3)