Region Six, East Berbice/Corentyne received $5.789B to carry out major developmental works, as approval for the sum was given last evening following examination of the Region’s allocations during the ongoing deliberations on the 2016 budget estimates.
According to a GINA release, health services and education delivery received the largest chunk of the total sum with $1.69B and $2.82B respectively.
Of the amount allocated for education, $71M will be spent to construct a new primary school at Number 36 Village. The Skeldon Line Path and Mibicuri Secondary Schools will be rehabilitated, and extension works done at the Cumberland Nursery School and at the Berbice Educational Institute. A sum of $19M will also be spent to purchase school furniture and other equipment.
For health, $51.6M was provided for the construction of a high dependency unit and outpatient building at the New Amsterdam Hospital and construction of a health centre at Mara. The sum of $24M was allocated to purchase ambulances, and $42M for the procurement of medical equipment including ultrasound and x-ray machines, and incubators and cardiac monitors.
Meanwhile, $752.2M was allocated to the region’s agriculture sector, of which $95.8M will be spent to construct and rehabilitate bridges at Kortberaad, DeKenderen, Mibicuri, Number 63 and 64 and Mibicuri/Johanna, and to build revetments at Baracara, and Grant 1615, Number 73. Provisions were also made for the construction of sluices at Lesbeholden, and the excavation of a canal at Alness.
Under Public Works, $359.9M was allocated for the rehabilitation and construction of major roads and bridges throughout the region. For the construction of bridges in areas including Williamsburg, Vryman’s Erven/Smithfield, Number 72 and 73, Kildonan, Fyrish, Grant 1805/1803, Manchester and Kendell, $33.9M has been allocated. The sum of $77.6M will be spent on rehabilitating roads at Kildonan, Tain/Clifton Number One, 52 and 68 villages. A dam will be built at Line Path ‘B’, with the sum of $9.9M and ramps and landings constructed at Corriverton and Moleson Creek, to the value of $30M.
Of the $160.4M that was allocated for Regional Administration, $9.5M will be spent for the rehabilitation of State House at New Amsterdam and the payment of retention. The sum of $4.5M was also allocated for the purchase of chairs, generator, cameras, tables and computers.
