Cabinet agrees to allocate $800M for hinterland roads

Cabinet agrees to allocate $800M for hinterland roads
Stabroek News
Saturday, September 1st 2007


Cabinet at its Tuesday meeting agreed to the allocation of $800M for
the rehabilitation of roads in hinterland communities and gave its
no-objections to seven contracts in the housing sector.

The Government Information Agency said Head of the Presidential
Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon, made this
announcement at a post Cabinet press briefing held on Wednesday, at the
Office of the President. Luncheon said a significant portion of the
money would be used to procure equipment for the road works. He said
the "bullish" market for natural resources in the sector have seen
great investments and as a result, there have been issues concerning
access to concession areas.

In the light of this, government is committed to resorting to the
protocol among stakeholders to govern access and usage of the interior
roads. Luncheon said protocol is being finalised in discussion with the
Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, the Guyana Geology and Mines
Commission, the Guyana Forestry Commission, the Gold and Diamond Miners
Association and the ministries of public works and local government and
regional development. It is intended to address issues of access for
multi-purpose use including exploiting surface and sub-surface rights
and the costs of maintenance of the road network.

Luncheon also said apart from government inputs, the resort to user
fees/tools have surfaced. He said concerns have also been raised about
crime in the hinterland and as a result more surveillance and policing
infrastructure is being considered. There was no information on which
hinterland roads would be covered in this programme.

Meanwhile, contracts estimated at $245M for the execution of works in
the housing sector are to be awarded. These include a $15.3M contract
for the construction of roads, drains and structures at the West Indian
Housing Association, Secondary School Road and Four Miles, Bartica,
Region Seven; a $31M contract for the installation of pure water
distribution networks at blocks Three and Six, Hope, and a $56.5M
contract for the upgrading of roads at Block Eight, Mon Repos, East
Coast Demerara (ECD) Region Four. A $36.6M contract for the upgrading
of roads at Parfaite/Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, Region Three; a
$19.5M contract for the construction of roads, drains and structures at
Marshon Sandreef, Annandale, ECD, a $52.2M contract for similar
structures at Block Y, Grove Middle Income (West), East Bank Demerara
and a $34.9M contract for the same structures at West Coast Demerara,
Region Three are also to be awarded.