President announces $20M for Region Three communities
- Country prepares for upcoming rainy season
H.E. Bharrat Jagdeo engages residents at Goed Fortuin, Region Three
(
OP photo by Sandra Prince)
Georgetown , GINA, October 14, 2005
As Guyana prepares to avoid flooding during the upcoming rainy season year-end, President Bharrat Jagdeo today announced that $20M will be allocated to several communities in Region Three, (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara).
The money will be made available to the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) next week to execute drainage works in the area, the President said during visits to Canal No. One and Two Polder, Goed Fortuin and De Kinderen this afternoon.
“The main focus here is drainage. We can never fully prepare for rain because our local drainage system is designed in such a way to take off 1.5 inches of rain in 24 hours. However in the last flood we had10 inches in one night alone. It would take about seven days to take off this quantity of water, so right now we have to clear our drainage systems and prepare as much as we can, even though we can never be fully prepared,” the President said.
The Head of State added that he did not want to raise expectations that there would be no flooding should excessive rainfall occur. However, Government is trying its utmost and will continue to do so to ensure there are proper drainage systems in the areas.
Five million of the $20M will be spent in Goed Fortuin to clear the main canal while the rest will be divided among the other communities. The project will be done by unemployed youths in the area, who will be paid directly by the region.
At the Belle West Housing Scheme, Canal No. Two Polder, residents implored the President about the electricity programme which they claim has been stalled. President Jagdeo explained that the programme is not stalled, but GPL is ‘stretched to capacity’ at present even though they have hired private contractors for the job. However, the first phase of the UAEP will be completed before March next year. Some 17,000 connections will be completed taking electricity to some 60,000 people countrywide.
H.E. Bharrat Jagdeo engages residents at De Kinderen, Region Three
(
OP photo by Sandra Prince )
“We have secured the money. We have already paid it to GPL. It is only a matter of time. They are really stretched at the moment. They even have private contractors working with them. They are working in large schemes including Sophia, Cummings Lodge, Black Bush, Essequibo, Tuschen etc. and Belle West is not that large so it should be finished early. The entire project should be completed by March next year.”
Pockets missed during the initial phase will be looked at after March 2006.
Several concerns were raised about the lack of roads and a main access bridge. It was explained that under the European Union/Government of Guyana Low Income Settlement Programme, these will be done. The project goes out to tender in three months and is expected to be completed within a year.
President Jagdeo explained that Government has been experiencing problems soliciting contractors because of the bulk of both public and private sector projects. He noted in many instances these contractors have not performed up to standard causing sub-standard work and abandoning projects, causing Government to re-tender and resulting in lengthy delays.
At Belle West the Head of State was asked for money for a playground and he committed $500,000 as the community is a thriving one with many youths. The residents will execute the contract. He committed to building a walkway at Belle West after an estimate is submitted to him near to the Clay Brick road.
A $13M nursery school is being constructed in the new housing scheme and is 40 percent completed. Residents requested a primary school, but Government cannot afford this at present. There were good reports about the water supply, but in some areas the pressure is low, an issue which will be looked into by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).
There are 1120 houselots in the first phase and 1700 in the scheme. Residents were appreciative of the visit.
The President expressed satisfaction to see so much work done in the area. It is among the largest housing schemes with roads, water supply and electricity poles installed.
Residents complained that the GWI has been digging up the road to facilitate their pipeline. This is unacceptable the President said and will be look into. He addressed issues of relocation and double occupancy of house lots.
The President also explained the procedure of payment for lots and why some lots are sold at a higher cost than others. It costs the Administration $250,000 to develop a lot with basic drains and roads and land-filling. With asphalted roads, drainage and electricity it amounts to $600,000.
At Canal Number One there is low water supply, since it is shared with Parfait/Harmonie, a new housing scheme. He said GWI will look at the possibility of putting in a pump at an existing well. The Region will also clear a main canal that will cost $900,000.
Residents claimed they did not benefit from flood relief. He advised that the exercise has closed and if they were legitimately registered, then they will benefit.
Residents complained of ill-treatment by GWI officers when they query the service offered and the President agreed to schedule a meeting for them with GWI’s management.
Goed Fortuin residents complained about the Neighbourhood Democratic Council’s (NDC) non-responsiveness. The President mandated the Regional Democratic Council’s (RDC) Chairman Esau Dookie to return to the community and host a meeting at which the NDC Chairman should be there to give residents explanations about their various concerns.
Calls were also made to have the regularization of the squatter settlement expedited and this will be looked into.
The final stop was at De Kinderen. The concerns there surrounded the issues of inadequate water supply, deplorable roads, electricity and lack of telephone service.
A delegation, representative of the various parts of the community will meet the President later, as well as the GWI on the water issue, while the Region will examine the road issues. Government will also speak to the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company on the community’s behalf, but no promises were made to ensure telephone services.
A pressing concern is that of the land through which the main drainage canal passes, being sold and this can cause flooding in the area. President Jagdeo said if this is the case, then Government will have to seek to re-acquire the lot.
Minister of Housing and Water Shaik Baksh will also return to De Kinderen to address residents’ concerns about sub-standard road works.
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