Latest update April 20th, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 09, 2014 News
…tells residents gov’t awaiting release of IDB money to start massive project
By Leon Suseran
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds visited and inspected ongoing remedial works along the East Bank Berbice roadway. During the visit he told residents and hire car operators that the government is currently awaiting the dispersal of funds from the Inter American Development Bank to start the multi- million road project.
During the visit last Friday, the Prime Minister was accompanied by Region Six Chairman, Mr. David Armogan; Vice- Chairman, Mr. Bhupaul Jhagroo; and Member of Parliament, Mr. Faizal M. Jaffarally.
Hinds noted that until that major project begins a $36M contract has been awarded to Associated Construction Services to do remedial works on the roadway. The more used parts of the thoroughfare, from Islington to Overwinning, will undergo asphalting. Crusher- run will be placed along the portion from Overwinning to Edinburgh Bridge.
These works are expected to be completed in another eight weeks.
According to residents, they are satisfied with the manner in which the contractor has been discharging his responsibilities.
Residents told the Prime Minister that the rehabilitation of the entire stretch of road has been done in a very expeditious manner. Hinds hope that the massive road project would commence by the end of this year or early next year.
President of the EBB Hire Car Association, Maxwell Semple, was not really pleased with what has been transpiring after the IDB Consultation. The IDB held a consultation with residents in June. He said that the officials at the consultation told them that $60M would be allocated to do remedial works until the new road project begins.
“Mr. Clark (Engineer within the Works Ministry) told us that they had $60M to do remedial works, now when I contacted him a few weeks later, he asked me to call Mr. Mansell , a Senior Engineer of Works Ministry who said to me clearly three weeks ago, that there was (originally) $60M but $26M was already used for Indian Arrival Day on May 5, and only $34M was left.”
He believes that the current monies being spent to do remedial works is a waste of money, “and is one thing we going through over and over.”
Semple said that Hinds spoke to him during the visit last Friday. “I met with him personally and we had a discussion. He said that they do not have enough money to do major works on the road until the IDB project is started.”
“For the money that is at hand at the moment, we can’t expect no major works, but we are dissatisfied in the way the government has been fooling us…We thought major works on the EBB road would have started in October,” Semple said.
A Road Users Group was formed a few months ago after the IDB consultations at Edinburgh. He said that the group plans to carry out a “huge demonstration.” The group has met four times since its formation in July.
Member of Parliament, Mr. Jaffarally, assured residents that the project will take place and a brand new roadway is very much certain.
“I want to assure the residents that there is no doubt in my mind, that major works will take place as soon as the money is released for the whole 25-mile roadway. I ask residents to be patient– the government is working…they are not being neglected and we are working hard to ensure they have a proper road in the area.”
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
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