Bartica sees extensive infrastructural work for 2019
Staying true to President David Granger’s mandate to become a model green town for the rest of Guyana, Bartica in Region Seven has come a long way with its municipal development in just a few years. With extensive infrastructural work that continues unabated, what was once known as a “gold bush” location and a drinking hotspot for gold and diamond miners is now showing signs of a budding, contemporary township.
It was not always this cheery for the Cuyuni/Mazaruni location Town Clerk Phebe Wallerson explained, as Barticians in the past had grappled with extremely poor road conditions, unstable power provision, limited infrastructure such as banking, insurance, health and other such facilities.
The first major hurdle that had to be crossed was having to immediately address the out-of-control solid waste situation that existed. The Town Clerk explained that before the Council was installed, the location relied on an unscheduled tractor collection system. This often saw huge garbage piles because of the long periods between the pickups. Additionally, the Byderabo dumpsite, south of the town’s commercial centre was improperly managed and posed serious problems for persons living nearby.
Today, Wallerson said proudly, the solid waste system is nothing like the past. A major rehabilitation project was undertaken by the Bartica Town Council and the Ministry of Communities to completely rehabilitate the dumpsite. “What we now have is a landfill site that is managed by the Council and the persons over there can safely open their windows, walk past the dumpsite and have their children play in the yard.”
Free garbage collection became a scheduled operation that occurs once every week. To complement the infrastructural work that improved solid waste management in Bartica, Wallerson said that an intensive awareness campaign at the school level, house to house and several community meetings was launched to have residents buy into the idea of proper waste management. The plan for recycling and other environmentally healthy activities are in consideration for the future.
Pushing the model green state, Bartica wants the first jump at being the largest user of renewable energy. Through the Ministry of Communities, an Italian grant project and Office of Climate Change, three Photovoltaic systems were modelled to provide the Bartica Community Centre and the Three-mile Dormitory among others with 100 percent solar energy.
Bartica is keen on selling its green product on an eco-tourism front, promoting its watering location, water-based sports and other activities that utilise its natural environment. The town is currently constructing a brand-new wharf to allow for an influx of persons via water transportation. It was related that over 100 persons visit Bartica weekly and that number with especially foreign persons continues to grow considerably.
The new wharf is expected to be a state-of-the-art facility being constructed in two phases. Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford said that the facility will be equipped with waiting area, a mini-mall, craft shops, floating ramps and all modern facilities.
The central government is currently building a new Magistrate’s Court.
Looking to the future the Regional Chairman spoke of the construction of a marina for yachting and other purposes, and the upgrading the regional airstrip to a municipal airport. The feasibility study for the Del Conte Road that links Parika to Bartica was also completed and funds for this venture could appear in the next national budget. Other major projects for the near future include a cultural centre and a multi-purpose sports facility. Bartica continues to move forward with its green spaces, with a third facility under construction.
Regional authorities have posited great developments for the “El Dorado gateway township”. They have boasted of being a model location that even the capital city Georgetown would want to take its cue from.