Squatters to be removed from Independence Boulevard

…as $1.4B modernisation project is launched

…Cemetery Road to be upgraded into 4 lanes

Squatters who are occupying land along Independence Boulevard in Albouystown, Georgetown have been asked by the Government to vacate same, which is Government- reserved, as a major urbanisation project is being geared up to begin.

Continuing with the enhancements project being done within the Georgetown area, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill on Monday launched the project along Independence Boulevard and at Cemetery Road, which will see persons who have homes and businesses on Independence Boulevard being relocated.
While addressing community members of Independence Boulevard and surrounding areas, Edghill pointed out that Independence Boulevard is a Government reserve, and at no point were orders given to the public to build on the land. As such, he said, persons who have structures on the reserve would have to start relocating.

“As far as I know, Independence Boulevard is a Government reserve, and the Government did not give anybody permission to build on the reserve. So, whoever has structures on the reserve, I’m giving public notice, because you already got notice: that you got to start moving,” the Public Works Minister said. “We are not here to displace anybody, even though people will have to move; we are bringing value to your neighbourhood.”
As of now, no timeline has been made clear for how long the squatters have to vacate the reserve land, but <<Guyana Times>> understands from what Minister Edghill said at the launching event that the timeline may have expired, as the project is expected to begin very soon.
He told contractors that the Government intends for the project to begin, and that the work starts “now.”
“We want this project to begin. Work begins now. I will say it again, in case the contractors didn’t hear me: work begins now,” Edghill said.
However, according to Edghill, there is a system in place for persons who have establishments and houses on the Boulevard. He noted that engineers have already mapped out the area, taking into consideration the structures that are erected on the reserve land. He said the information was gathered and will be addressed by the Ministry of Housing and Water to assist with the facilitation of living arrangements.
This announcement was welcomed with cheers from the residents.
Lennox Gibson, who has been living in Albouystown for ten years, told this publication that he appreciates the effort of the Government as they are on the path to “enhancing the value” of Albouystown with the enhancement project.
The enhancement project will see almost $1.5 billion being pumped into the upgrade and transformation of roads along Independence Boulevard and at Cemetery Road. “Independence Boulevard, all the way to the end, all the way through to Cemetery Road, will be upgraded”, it has been made clear.
Works at Independence Boulevard will be completed in three lots, each lot being awarded to a different contractor to speed up the construction process.
Lot one will see works being done from Saffon Street to La Penitence by Rim Construction Inc. Construction will begin from La Penitence to Garnett Street, making up lot two, by IB Contracting and Machine Rental. Lot three will be done by C&L Construction Inc from Garnett Street to Cemetery Road.
According to Edghill, the project will entail a “double-lane carriageway on the northern side and a single-lane carriageway on the southern side.”
“So, you would end up having three lanes of traffic. Between those two carriageways, we’re going to have a promenade. It will be three metres wide. On both sides of the road, we are putting in concrete drains,” he said.
He added that utility posts along the area will be replaced by concrete posts.
The Minister said the enhancement that will be done to the Boulevard would elevate Albouystown from being a shantytown into being part of the developed Georgetown city. This, he said, would make the community attractive, thus increasing property value while creating job opportunities for persons in the community.
“Albouystown must move from being a shantytown into being part of the development of the Georgetown city as this country modernises. We are making this community attractive, so your property value must go up. People who didn’t want to come and live in this neighbourhood, when they see how it looks: properly lit, green spaces for children to play, safe neighbourhood, they would want to start moving in. And with oil and gas and the expansion, some of those international companies must come to Albouystown and start setting up offices and building office complexes right here for you to be able to get jobs,” Edghill stated.

4-lane road
The enhancement project does not stop at Independence Boulevard, it continues to Cemetery Road, which will see Avinash Contracting being responsible for the transformation of the road into four lanes.
“In Cemetery Road — we are now upgrading it; both of the carriageways, from Princess Street all the way out to Mandela Avenue — we are ensuring that you would get traffic two lanes going and two lanes coming. So, Cemetery [would be] turning into a four-lane.”
The Public Works Minister said the upgrade of Cemetery Road would resemble that of the recent construction of the Vlissingen-to-Lamaha Road.

Job Opportunities
Additionally, the enhancement project to be done along Independence Boulevard and at Cemetery Road would create job opportunities for the residents of Albouytown.
Edghill stated that he discussed with the contractors that they must offer construction work to the residents before they offer anyone else.
“All of the contractors, they have already been told, while we are developing and enhancing the environment, people from the area [Albouystown] must get work. So, while we are bringing development, we’re also creating jobs,” the Minister said.
He explained that the contracts weren’t rewarded to the residents because the job requires heavy-duty construction machines, machines that the contractors can provide.
Edghill said the project is part of the Government’s overall plan for the development of South Georgetown.
“What is happening here this afternoon [Monday] is not a one-off project. It’s not a token project, but it is a part of the Government’s overall plan for the development of South Georgetown,” he said.
The Minister expects the project to be completed before the end of 2022.
Earlier this year, after 12 months of work being done on it, the much anticipated $2.3 billion four-lane Eccles-to-Mandela Highway opened in April, providing an alternate route for cars looking to avoid the East Bank Demerara (EBD) rush hour traffic. (Shane Marks)