Water network, hinterland airstrip development projects proposed

UK multibillion grant

The Government of Guyana has submitted two project proposals to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) as part of the newly-established United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (UKCIF), from which Guyana will be benefiting from some $16 billion in grant resources.

During a visit to Jamaica last year, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced the launch of the £300 million fund as part of the country’s commitment to reinvigorating the relationship between the UK and Caribbean countries.

The UKCIF is an ambitious investment undertaken by the UK to provide grant funding to improve or create new infrastructures such as roads, bridges and ports to help drive economic growth and development in nine Commonwealth countries across the Region. However, the UK Government has designated the CDB to work along with the beneficiary states to design, develop and implement the programme.

In April, Finance Minister Winston Jordan along with Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan met with British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn and representatives of the CDB and the Department for International Development (DFID) to discuss Guyana’s proposed infrastructural projects.

Government had identified and submitted project proposals for six major infrastructure development programmes. These included: improved road networks, bridges, stellings and waterfronts; rehabilitation of airstrips, reliable access to potable water and reduced energy costs as well as to tackle the environmental and health risks associated with the improper disposal of waste.

Speaking with media operatives on Tuesday, High Commissioner Quinn disclosed that two of the six projects – one on the water network and another on hinterland airstrip development – were submitted to the CDB for assessment. Only those projects that are assessed to be critical drivers of economic growth and able to deliver an Economic Rate of Return of at least 12 per cent or similar qualitative benefits will be approved for financing.

However, Quinn noted that while the projects were actively under consideration, the process would be a lengthy one for both the CDB and the UK especially since the latter only has a staff of four within the CDB to access the project bids.

“So we are talking about probably months before a final decision is taken to allow things to start. So, we start (Wednesday) and it will be a while for assessment, because they’ve got to do various environmental assessments etc,” the British High Commissioner stated.

While much information has not been disclosed on the two projects submitted for funding, the water supply network project seeks to improve the network of potable water in the country and the hinterland airstrip development will see improved access to hard-to-reach areas.

President David Granger has been pushing hinterland development, highlighting the discouraging geographic inequalities between the coastland and the hinterland, and urban and rural communities.

“The hinterland, despite its endowment, remains underdeveloped plagued by poor infrastructure and environmental hazards. The disparities in development and in households between hinterland and coastland must be removed if we are to become a more equal nation,” the Guyanese Head of State outlined in his address to the National Assembly last month.