99 per cent of capital projects complete from 2020 budget

Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region 10, Dwight John, related that 99 per cent of capital projects under the $300 M 2020 budget was completed while 95 per cent of current projects was completed. While the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), had three months to compete the projects, all effort was placed into ensuring value for the budgeted funds were given to the residents of Region 10.

Akabra Drive, Wisburg School Road and 606 Oval in Retrieve were roads completed in 2020.  Major revetment works were completed in Block 22 to alleviate erosion challenges residents were faced with. To prepare schools for reopening in a COVID-19 environment, water troughs were completed at all secondary schools and primary schools in Region 10 while nursery schools will be completed in 2021. Under education, the Bamia Nursery School was also completed while the Bamia Primary School is slated for commencement in 2021.

Monies were also expended on the rehabilitation of COVID-19 isolation facilities in Linden and the Upper-Berbice River, which include major rehabilitation works to the Dorfolk Home in Retrieve, Linden.

The farm to market road leading from Millie’s Hide Out to the Berbice River was also expanded in 2020 and John related that every year a stipulated amount of kilometers will be funded, until the entire road is completed. The farm to market road was a project that commenced under the previous council and aimed to expand farm lands in the intermediate savannahs and to reduce the difficulties farmers faced in transporting their products to markets in Linden, New Amsterdam and Region Four.

Outlying communities in the Berbice River and Kwakwani were not excluded from the 2020 budget and saw a number of repairs being completed on schools and other public buildings in these communities.

 For 2021, John said that all projects submitted by the RDC was included in the budget, except for the continuation of the new Administration building that commenced under the previous administration in Speightland. John said that while the project will not continue in 2021, it will be completed in the near future. Regional Officials will defend the 2021 budget in Parliament before it is passed in the coming weeks. The construction of several roads, construction of a primary school in Wisroc and projects that are expected to boost agriculture and health delivery in Region 10 were some projects proposed in the 2021 budget

Photo attached of Regional Executive Officer Dwight John