President Dr. Irfaan Ali stated that a number of efforts are underway, with the aim of rapidly expanding Guyana’s physical infrastructure, improving connectivity with continental and regional neighbours and trading partners, and developing productive potential.
On Monday, he said that a number of key projects are already underway. Giving a progress report, he said that the Linden to Mabura section of the Linden to Lethem road has already been tendered; expressions of interest have already been received for a new bridge across the Corentyne river in partnership with our Surinamese neighbours; and, private sector investment to construct multiple shore-based and deep-water facilities at the mouths of the Demerara and Berbice rivers has been welcomed.
Furthermore, he said that work on major roads have commenced. These roads will allow greater access of lands for productive purposes. Some of the road works include: the tendering for the No. 58 to Canje Creek road, with works expected to be commence before the end of the year; the clearing of the alignment and surveying has commenced for the Parika to Goshen network and for the Timehri to Bartica link connecting Sand Hills to Makouria.
Works on new and upgraded roads in the intermediate savannahs and the hinterland regions
Other key initiatives include the tendering of the new bridge across the Demerara River; the completion of the feasibility study for the Schoonard to Parika and the progression to the design and finance stage; and, the commencement of works on the new Eccles to Mandela Avenue roadway.
Furthermore, works on the further expansion of this highway from Eccles to Diamond has already commenced with designs and costings completed. The Ogle to Eccles highway, on the other hand, is expected to be awarded by the end of this quarter with works commencing before the end of the year. Efforts to secure financing for the Ogle to Diamond, and from Diamond to Timehri phases of this project have also commenced with the feasibility study already completed.
In other areas, the pre-construction feasibility studies and efforts to secure financing for the further extension of the four-lane road on the East Coast of Demerara to at least Mahaica has also commenced.
The project planning and pre-design analysis for a four-lane Corentyne highway upgrade has commenced. The objective of this project is the construction of an upgraded four-lane highway from New Amsterdam to Skeldon.
The rehabilitation of Soesdyke to Linden highway has also commenced.
The President also highlighted that community roads, streets, and residential areas have commenced in all 10 Administrative Regions.
Outside of the road networks, he related that works on aerodromes and air strips have also commenced, with Lethem’s extended runway already completed and works to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) to secure two additional air-bridges, 30 new shops in the commercial centre and completion of the front side curtain-walls. These works are all expected to be completed by the end of the year.
On river transport, he noted that work has already commenced on modernising our river transport system. The upgrading of many stellings have started and it is expected that a new ocean-going ferry will be secured in 2021. This contract has already been awarded 10 months ago with a construction period of 18 months.
Importantly, too, the platform is also being laid for new growth poles and urban centres with a planned sustainable new city.
Works on Silica city, which is expected to be Guyana’s secondary city, are at a planning stage, with surveys and land acquisition being pursued. In addition, the conceptual planning for Wales development is in the final stage of completion.
Investments have already commenced that would see many new internationally branded hotels and other modern facilities synonymous with a vibrant and multi-dimensional economy already on the way.
