Region 6 proposes $2.9B budget for 2023

…rehabilitation of roads, bridges earmarked

…health centres, schools, health outposts to be constructed

For its capital works programme, the administration of Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne) has presented a whopping $2.9 billion budget proposal for 2023. The 2022 capital works programme was budgeted at $3 billion.
This 2023 budget proposes to have 51 community streets rehabilitated and works completed in all three municipalities and 16 of the 18 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). The Enfield/ New Doe Park and Plegt Anker/ Kortberaadt areas on the East Bank of Berbice are expected to benefit from upgrades to sluices and heavy-duty bridges under the Region Six drainage and irrigation programme to the tune of $200 million.
There are no community roads in Plegt Anker/Kortberaadt area, while the Enfield/New Doe Park NDC has a few at Edinburgh, and one each at Brothers, Sisters and Friends villages. However, vehicle operators have been voicing concerns over some of the access streets in Edinburgh.
With exception of the Wyburg/ Caracas NDC in West Canje, the access roads in all the other NDCs in Region Six are in need of repair. The budget proposes to upgrade as many as five community roads in some NDCs. Rehabilitation of two community roads in each of the three towns: New Amsterdam, Rose Hall Town and Corriverton, is also being proposed. The total cost of this roads’ rehabilitation project is $976 million.
It is to be noted also that the Local Government, Public Works, and Agriculture Ministries usually have huge sums in their individual budgets for major road upgrades and new roads.
Apart from roads, the Region is proposing to spend $116 million to construct two new bridges and to rehabilitate an additional ten bridges.
It must be noted that the largest part of the proposed budget is reserved for the education sector. A new nursery school is being proposed for the Black Bush Polder community. Currently, the Mibicuri Primary and Nursery schools are housed in the same building, and
enrolment at the primary school has been increasing over the years. This development requires additional space for both schools. Currently, there is no space reserved for the nursery school.
Additionally, a new Home Economics and Industrial Technology building is being proposed for Port Mourant Secondary, and the Region is also proposing to extend several school buildings next year. These are: the Special Needs School in New Amsterdam, Leeds Primary, Kiltearn Nursery, Whim Nursery, Skeldon Linepath Primary, Berbice Educational Institute, Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary, All Saints Primary, and Crabwood Creek Primary. A total sum of $675.3 million is being proposed for that.
As it relates to the health sector, the Region has proposed to spend $348.3 million to erect two new health centres and two new health outposts. New health centres are being proposed for Chesney Housing Scheme and Gangaram village in East Canje, while the new health posts are being proposed for Moleson Creek on the Corentyne and at Mara on the East Bank of Berbice.