Govt continues to boost local infrastructure
─ $5.5B spent on roads, bridges for 2019 thus far- Midyear report
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, August 22, 2019
As the Coalition Government continues to invest the country’s resources in bolstering the crumbling infrastructure it inherited, $5.5Billion has been spent during the first half of 2019 towards this sector.
According to the Ministry of Finance’s Mid-Year Report for 2019, the money has been directed towards the building and rehabilitating of roads and bridges throughout the country.
In preparation for the highly anticipated Linden-Lethem road project, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure has established a worksite in a compound in Wisroc, Linden. The compound will house the Special Projects Unit for the operation of the job.
The timelines for two major feasibility studies are nearing their end. By December of this year, the feasibility study to construct a 125km road from Linden to Mabura, along with the Kurupukari Bridge is expected to be finalised. While, in a month, the design and studies for the 72km Linden-Soesdyke Highway will be completed.
During the first quarter, two firms submitted bids to conduct the feasibility studies and preparatory designs for the reconstruction of Wismar Bridge. Those works will commence during the second half of 2019. Within the same administrative region, the 6km construction of the Mile Zero to Rockstone Junction will begin during the third quarter of 2019.
Concerning hinterland roads, several projects are well underway. Below is a list of the works that began within the first half of 2019.
| – 4-Mile 5-Bartica Potaro Road |
| – Mile 6-Mile 19 Bartica Potaro Road |
| – Mile 4-Yarkita/Karrau to Buckkhall |
Additionally, the Mid-Year Report also highlights the road upgrades for the newly established towns. Within the first half of 2019, residents of Mabaruma, Bartica and Lethem have seen their internal roads constructed and upgraded. Mahdia has also benefited from internal roads upgrades during the aforementioned period.
A section of the Wauna Road in Region 1, Barima-Waini
Across Regions 3, 4 and 6, the rehabilitation and construction of community roads have begun and are to be completed by year-end. Below is a list of the specific areas.
| Administrative Region | Community |
| Pomeroon-Supenaam | Golden Fleece |
| Pomeroon-Supenaam | Suddie |
| Demerara-Mahaica | Industry |
| Demerara-Mahaica | Clonbrook |
| Demerara-Mahaica | Rimehri |
| Demerara-Mahaica | Grove |
| Demerara-Mahaica | Better Hope |
| Demerara-Mahaica | Mocha |
| East Berbice-Corentyne | Alness |
Also, the Public Infrastructure Ministry is moving forward with its plans to bring a new Demerara Harbour Bridge into fruition. To date, this developmental goal will transform the way people commute between Regions 3 and 4 and has seen the government embracing a Public-Private Partnership model (PPP).
Within the first half of 2019, the feasibility study for the project was done following collaboration between the Coalition Government and the International Finance Corporation, which is a member of the World Bank Group.
To enhance connectivity throughout the nation, $16.5Billion has so far been expended from the approved budgetary allocation of $38.5Billion to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.