Region 6 tapped for major road, community connectivity push – Budget 2026 debate

As Parliament opened debate on the 2026 National Budget on Monday, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) was singled out for a major connectivity and access push, with Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill outlining a series of road and community-link projects aimed at improving movement, market access and everyday services across the region. Speaking during the opening day of the debate, Edghill pointed to the build out of a new four-lane corridor from Palmyra to Molson Creek as a central pillar of the Region Six programme, alongside expanded farm-to-market access from El dorado and a set of hinterland and riverine connections linking Molson Creek with Orealla and surrounding communities, including Siparuta and Kwakwani, Region 10. He said the works are intended to ensure that development reaches residents where they live, work and produce, rather than remaining confined to headline figures. The Public Works Minister framed the Region Six projects as part the “people-first” approach, arguing that improved transport infrastructure directly lowers travel time and costs, supports agriculture and trade and improves access to health, education and other services. In Region Six, he said, stronger road and community links are critical to helping farmers move produce more efficiently, easing daily commutes along the Corentyne corridor and better integrating riverine and hinterland villages into the regional economy.
While the debate featured sharp national exchanges, opposition Parliamentarians also underscored standards against which Region Six residents are likely to judge delivery. Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Andre Lewis congratulated the Finance Minister and public servants on the preparation of the Budget and argued that a people-centred programme should ultimately be measured by tangible outcomes, including improved quality of life, equitable regional development and sustained access to services. Applied to Region Six, that benchmark places emphasis on whether promised road and access works translate into improvements for communities. Opposition MP Vinceroy Jordan similarly raised issues.
However, Edghill maintained that the scale of public works investment reflects the link between infrastructure and individual benefit, stressing that improved roads, drainage and access routes are designed to reduce costs, support economic activity and improve service delivery. For Region Six, he said, the Palmyra – Molson Creek corridor and associated hinterland links are expected to strengthen connectivity along the Corentyne while opening up easier access for interior and riverine communities.