Road upgrades, electricity, water improvements underway at Upper East Bank Berbice

After being promised that the upgrade of the Upper East Bank Berbice road in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) would have been completed sometime back, work is finally moving apace now.

Not only is work on the road taking place at a fast pace, but the residents are also seeing evidence which suggest that they would very soon be receiving electricity.
It has been more than one year since residents were promised that the remaining road network along the Upper East Bank Berbice, Region Six, would be completed shortly. In October 2023, during a visit to the Upper East Bank Berbice, President Dr Irfaan Ali had expressed his disappointment with the pace at which the East Bank Berbice main access road was being done by the Ministry of Public Works. This was after the Head of State had released $100 million in December 2021 for work on the Upper East Bank Berbice main access road, which at that time had been in a deplorable state for a number of years.
When President Ali last visited the community, in October 2023, residents were promised that the remaining road network would have been completed within the shortest possible time. Last month, after residents met with regional officials and threatened to take their concerns to the President, they were informed that contracts were awarded to three contractors. Work commenced a few days after that meeting.
On Wednesday, Region Six Chairman David Armogan inspected ongoing works which would see the existing road being upgraded to an asphaltic surface.
“About three kilometres of roadway is being done presently by three contractors. One of the contractors, I understand, have not started as yet, but two are at the stage where the road is being paved. This will go a long way in assisting the people in the East Bank in terms of easier travel,” Armogan pointed out.
However, while road work is ongoing, poles are also being planted along the EBB roadway. In December, Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, during a community engagement in Berbice, announced that efforts are now underway for the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) to focus its next major project on providing electricity to residents of Mara.
“Lots of development is taking place on the East Bank. Currently, poles are being run from Light Town right on to the Mara area, because the Government is bent on bringing electricity to the area before the end of the year. That will go a far way in assisting the residents,” Armogan, who earlier on Wednesday met with residents at Mara and surrounding communities, said.
The meeting provided an opportunity for residents to voice their concerns and receive updates on ongoing development projects. Armogan addressed key issues, including support for land clearing, the status of the electricity project, and progress on road infrastructure in the area.
Residents also expressed gratitude for the continued investments in East Bank Berbice communities, noting the significant improvements these initiatives will bring to their livelihoods and overall quality of life.
Meanwhile, residents have reported improvements to the water woes they have faced for several months. They are now receiving water from the new well, but they expressed concern over the quality of the water. The Regional Chairman has said he would be contacting the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) seeking to have them address the issue of heavy iron content in the water being supplied.
“I will ask GWI if they can put in some filters to alleviate that problem for the people at Mara,” he said.
Asked about the impact the development taking place along the East Bank Berbice will have on the lives of residents of Mara and surrounding communities, Armogan said it is expected that the East Bank Berbice corridor would become a busy thoroughfare within a short period.
“Once the road is completed, more people will go there. Lots of people have land there, and the Government is also clearing lands for people. They are clearing five acres for any individual who wants land cleared for farming purposes. Once that is completed, then people would come back in the East Bank (corridor).”
During the mid and late 70s, the East Bank Berbice was known for its citrus, vegetable, root crops and milk production. (G4)