Works on Ituni internal roads to begin before 2020

DPI, Guyana, Saturday, November 9, 2019

Residents from the logging community of Ituni in Region 10 will soon experience a transformation to their standard of living, with the expected upgrades of all their internal roads that span 3.4km.

Following a meeting at Ituni community ground, Minister of Public Infrastructure, Hon. David Patterson told the residents, “the contractor has started mobilising… in 4 weeks you should have better internal roads.”

Under the same contract that was awarded, Minister Patterson noted that the drains in the community will also be rehabilitated. The residents responded enthusiastically in anticipation of the commencement of the contractual works that will be commence before year-end.

Glen Naipaul told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that he looks forward to a reduction in maintenance costs to his vehicle with an upgraded road. Glen noted the heavy-duty vehicles have contributed to the degradation of the community roads that are in dire need of a facelift. The resident also said the infrastructural works will lead to improved education.

“The children are unable to walk to school in mud and these water ponds. So, when the road is done, it will greatly impact our community… When the road is finished and the drains are finished, there will be no more potholes, no more pressure on the children” Glen explained.

Nicola Bennett, another respondent, shared that the roads’ current condition is an inconvenience to her neighbours in Ituni. “It’s bad. It has a lot of holes when it rains. It would cause some people yards to flood because of the [poor] drainage… When the road is done, we won’t have flooding because the water would move freely through the new drains…When it is May-June time, our children will be able to get free access on the road,” Bennett continued.

In May 2018, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), through the Natural Resources Ministry, awarded the contract for repairs to the Linden/Ituni/Kwakwani road to International Imports and Supplies at a cost of $240M.

While the road does not fall under the purview of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, the ministry provides technical support with the tender document and the specification of the works. Maintenance to the road has decreased travel time to both Ituni and Kwakwani many hours.

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