Over $500M in contracts signed to upgrade roads, school in Reg 2
– equipment handed over to Mainstay/Whyaka Village
Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) is slated to undergo major infrastructural upgrades following the signing of several multimillion-dollar contracts to rehabilitate roads as well as the expansion of at least one school in the region.
On Sunday, Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh witnessed a series of these contract signings in various communities across the region.
Contract being signed for upgrades to the Capoey Lake Mainstay access road in Region Two
This included a $219 million contract for the upgrade of the Capoey Lake main access road. The project includes 3000 meters of road upgraded to asphaltic concrete, road edge markings, and speed humps.
This project is expected to reduce travel time and transportation costs for students and residents residing in the community.
It will also serve as a tourism booster as well as aid in other economic activities which the road is used for, such as rice and cash crop farming.
Signing the contract were the Permanent Secretary of the Public Works Ministry, Vladim Persaud and a representative from the contracting firm, Technocon Investments.
Moreover, another contract was also inked on Sunday for the main access road between Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI) in Anna Regina to Chinese Lock, Essequibo Coast.
Dr Singh also witnessed the signing of this contract, which was to the tune of $246 million, for the upgrade of some 3400 meters of road to asphaltic concrete along with road edge markings and speed humps.
Similarly, this project is expected to reduce travel time and transportation costs, with the main beneficiaries being students and residents of Mainstay/Whyaka Village, Lima Sands Housing Scheme, Tapakuma Mission, and Feather Beach.
It will also serve as a tremendous tourism booster by providing easier access to patrons visiting Lake Mainstay Resort.
Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh joining residents to commission the newly-built Dredge Creek Landing on Sunday
These works to upgrade the access road were requested by villagers during President Dr Irfaan Ali’s outreach to Mainstay Village on May 25, 2022. The contractor, Mohammed Ramzanali Khan, will be executing this project.
Meanwhile, during his visit to Region Two on Sunday, Dr Singh also delivered on several other presidential promises previously made. Dr Singh handed over a tractor along with a back blade to the Mainstay/Whyaka Village Council on behalf of President Ali.
The equipment is expected to be used to maintain the trail from Red Lock Bridge to Mainstay Village/Lake – another promise made by the Head of State during his visit to communities in the region, where he listened to their needs.
Dr Singh highlighted that the contribution to the community is a direct manifestation of his Government’s continued commitment to deliver on its promises. He also commended the community for taking the initiative to partner with the Government to develop their community and resolve their issues.
Additionally, Dr Singh also fulfilled another promise made by the Head of State – who spent the weekend visiting communities in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) – by handing over a quantity of furniture procured by the Region Two Regional Democratic Council (RDC), to the Mainstay Health Centre.
The tractor with back blade that was handed over to the Mainstay/Whyaka Village Council on Sunday
Further, Minister Singh also witnessed the signing of another contract – this time for the extension of the CV Nunes Primary School in Anna Regina.
This $54 million project will see the extension of a two-storey building to house 12 additional classrooms, a sanitary facility, and a trestle. The current building recently benefited from immediate maintenance works on the roof, ceiling, lights, and windows, as well as drainage upgrades, which were carried out by the RDC.
Dr Singh reiterated Government’s commitment to ensuring that they do everything they possibly can to create the conditions and put in place the infrastructure necessary for every young Guyanese person to achieve a good quality education at every level.
He also participated in a simple ribbon-cutting ceremony for the upgraded solar panel system at Dredge Creek Primary School in Region Two.
The upgrade to the system was done based on a request made by the School’s Head Teacher on behalf of students and the Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) of Dredge Creek. This initiative will provide a renewable, stable, and reliable electricity supply to the school for its daily activities, benefiting approximately 69 students and 10 staff – allowing them to better utilise the school’s services and provide better learning opportunities.
In addition, Dr Singh took part in another simple ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the new Dredge Creek Landing, which was requested by the Head Mistress, PTA, and villagers of Dredge Creek during President Ali’s visit in May.
The new landing will benefit students, teachers, and villagers who previously had to embark and disembark close to the side of a koker from their boats.
The new landing was a project between the Finance Ministry and the Region Two Regional Democratic Council. The Ministry provided the financing to the tune of $1.5 million and the RDC executed the works.
While in Region Two delivering on several presidential promises in various communities on Sunday, Minister Singh stopped and interacted with persons at the Regatta event which was held at the Washiba Resort in Capoey.