Improvement to Region 5 sectors with approval of $3.7Billion
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, December 13, 2018
The Mahaica-Berbice has been granted the sum of $3.7Billion to improve its public infrastructure, healthcare education and agriculture sectors. The budgetary allocation was approved by the Committee of Supply today.
Public Infrastructure received $382Million; Healthcare $844Million; Education $1.9Billion and Agriculture $300Million.
Minister of Communities Roald Bulkan defending the budgetary allocations for the East Berbice-Corentyne region in the National Assembly.
Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan said of the $300Million allocated to the Agri-sector $15Million will go towards a poultry rearing initiative to be located North-East of the regional administration building. The project entails the construction of poultry pens ($6M), a slaughtering and plucking area ($6.4M) and fence ($2M).
With regard to the improvement of the region’s infrastructural development, the Communities Minister noted that there was a $91Million increase from the amount budgeted in 2018. The monies Minister Bulkan explained will be assigned, to the among other projects, the construction, rehabilitation and upgrading of roads in communities such as at Union, Ithaca, Bath, Shieldtown, Belladrum, Nos. 8 and 12 Villages, Rosignol, Perth, Cottage, Hopetown, Bush Lot and Trafalgar among others. This sector will also see procurement of four 4×4 vehicles, one bobcat, roller, additional equipment and increased monitoring of projects.
Some of the other capital projects that will be undertaken in 2019 include:
- Rehabilitation of Latchmansingh Primary School and Belladrum, Rosignol, Novar, Mahaicony and Bygeval Secondary Schools
- Extension of Liberty Hall Nursery School
- Construction of incinerators at Fort Wellington and Mahaicony Hospitals
- Rehabilitation of dams at Onderneeming, Good Faith/Recess and Number 28 and 41 Villages
- Provision for crops and land utilisation project
- Construction of a bridge at Airy Hall
Minister Bulkan said steps will be taken to create a cohesive working environment after it was highlighted that 10 statutory meetings were disrupted due to the absence of leadership.
He noted that in the face of various challenges the administration continues to function. He said the government is not at a standstill but continuously moving forward to ensure the region’s development
Neola Damon
Images: Keno George