222 E.C.D roads to undergo upgrades in coming months

Several outreaches by the government to East Coast Demerara communities in recent months culminated with a massive contract signing on Monday to the tune of $7.8 billion.

The contracts are for upgrading a total of 222 roads in these villages.

Accompanied by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar witnessed the signing of the contracts at the Lusignan Community Centre. The contracts were signed by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Vladim Persaud.

Minister Indar regarded the activity as unprecedented.

“Every village will see works happening across the ECD corridor through a phased, multiyear approach,” he pledged.

Indar disclosed that 78 additional contracts will be signed in coming weeks, fulfilling the promise of completing 300 roads.

The new tranche of roadworks will raise Government’s road construction programme to approximately 4,000 roads since 2020.

While stressing the need for the contractors to utilise materials that pass specification requirements, he urged adherence to project timelines so as to minimize inconvenience to citizens.

Meanwhile, Nandlall reminded residents that the projects were identified based on the needs and population size of the communities.

“No time in the history of our country has there been this level of infrastructural development in one area alone on the East Coast of Demerara,” he said.

These road projects complement the 300 roads in Region Six and another 100 on the East Bank of Demerara, forming a comprehensive infrastructural network.