Ministry of Public Works hosts training on sustainable road design

The Ministry of Public Works is conducting a two-day training workshop to enhance the efficiency of road and infrastructure projects and equip staff with the necessary skills to meet evolving development demands.

Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill addressed attendees at the opening ceremony of the “Program for Road Construction and Concrete Works Training,” being held from May 30-31. He highlighted the government’s strategic decision to transition from asphaltic concrete to concrete roads in certain areas is due to weather conditions and water flow challenges.

“Because of the weather, rain, and water flow, we are moving to concrete roads. But even solid concrete roads are under threat because of erosion. If the base erodes, so does the concrete,” Minister Edghill explained.

He emphasised the workshop’s goal of not only transferring knowledge but also improving current practices to achieve better results.

“If there is anything that I would like to see coming out of this workshop, it’s not just the transfer of information and knowledge, but we should be looking to see if there is something that we are doing that we could be doing better, because ultimately, what we want is better results,” Minister Edghill said.

“The government of Guyana is committed to delivering value for money. “Where we are now, we must be building out for the future,” added.

The training includes Senior Managers, Engineers, Clerks of Works, and Technicians from various regions across Guyana, as well as technical officers from the Ministry of Local Government.

Training topics include; Procurement and Finance, Survey and Assessment, Best practices in Design, Innovative Construction Methods, Innovative Management Strategies, Durability and Reliability of Road Works, Rigid and Flexible Pavement Systems, among other important aspects.

Minister Edghill admonished staff of the Ministry of Public Works, to be mindful of how the works being undertaken in communities affect community members and to ensure that projects are completed on time and within the allocated budget.