Black Bush Polder Road will be fixed

─ Min Edghill assures residents

Thousands of residents and farmers are being assured that the Black Bush Polder Road in Region Six will be rehabilitated after being in a deplorable state for years.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, gave the assurance during a site visit, Saturday.

The minister met with residents of Johanna, Yakusari and Mibicuri, where three contracts have been awarded for sectional maintenance of the roads.

The road works are being undertaken by Kascon Engineering Service at $165.7 million, RIM Construction Inc at $204.7 million and SAWA Investments Inc at $29.8 million, respectively.

“Fixing Black Bush Polder is not something that is optional for us, it is something that we want to do. We want to ensure that you the residents, the farmers benefit,” Minister Edghill said.

Minister Edghill said fixing the road is critical to government’s agricultural agenda to reduce CARICOM’s food import bill by 25 per cent. That project is being led by President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali himself.

“So, keep it in mind at all times, you are deserving of having the road and your government listens and responds. So, there is no difficulty and there should be no confusion that the road will not be done. We want to do the road,” the ministerassured.

In addition, Minister Edghill told residents that government is committed to fixing the entire road network, but noted it will be done in phases. The ongoing works to repair sections of the road are ahead of schedule.

“We look forward to being able to do much more.  The 2022 budget provides monies and we will be doing more work in Black Bush Polder.”

Meanwhile, the minister noted that Budget 2022 caters for the upgrade of the highway from Palmyra to Moleson Creek, for which $8.3 billion has been earmarked.