“We are not playing” – Edghill warns contractors as $604M highway project rolls out

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill on Tuesday met with residents and stakeholders along the Corentyne Highway as Government moves ahead with a massive US$604 million project to transform the roadway from Sheet Anchor to Crabwood Creek/Moleson Creek into a modern four-lane corridor, even as he issued a firm warning to contractors that only the highest quality of work will be accepted.

The project, which spans approximately 80 kilometres and is being executed in multiple phases, is expected to significantly improve transportation, boost economic activity, and form part of a wider push to modernise infrastructure across Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The ambitious undertaking will see the development of an 80-kilometre stretch of roadway between Sheet Anchor and Crabwood Creek/Moleson Creek, divided into three lots under a design, build and finance model. Indian firm Vishnu Samundra is responsible for Lots One and Three, while the project is being supervised by international engineering company RITES, which previously oversaw the successful completion of the Eccles to Ogle four-lane highway.

Addressing residents during the engagement, Edghill made it clear that the Government will be closely monitoring the works to ensure strict adherence to quality standards.

“We are not playing on this project,” the Minister declared, adding that contractors will be held fully accountable for the delivery of a high-quality roadway.

He further stressed that residents must be able to directly engage with those responsible for the project, introducing representatives of the contracting firm during the meeting and urging them to maintain open lines of communication with communities along the corridor.

The Minister also placed the project within the broader context of Government’s investment in infrastructure across Region Six, revealing that more than $50.1 billion has already been spent on community roads over the past five years.

According to Edghill, over 2,280 roads and road segments have been completed, with works extending beyond main thoroughfares into residential communities.

“Every single street, in every single community… has been fixed, and what has not yet been completed in 2026, it will be completed,” he said, noting that previous complaints about uneven development have been addressed through widespread upgrades.

In addition, Edghill disclosed that more than 22,000 street lights have already been installed across Guyana as part of a wider national programme, with many of those installations taking place in Berbice. He noted that works are continuing to ensure communities benefit from improved safety and visibility.

The highway project forms part of a broader transformation of transportation infrastructure in the region, which includes plans for a new four-lane high-span Berbice River bridge. The bridge, similar in design to the new Demerara Harbour Bridge, will allow large vessels to pass beneath it. Additionally, discussions are ongoing between Guyana and Suriname regarding the construction of a bridge across the Corentyne River, aimed at strengthening cross-border connectivity.

Further upgrades are also being considered along the western corridor, with Government examining improvements from Rosignol through Mahaica to link with the four-lane highway currently under construction, significantly reducing travel time between Berbice and Georgetown.

During the engagement, the Minister emphasised that consultations with residents are a critical part of the project, ensuring that communities are informed about the scope of works, timelines, and any potential impacts.

However, concerns were raised regarding the completion of pre-construction conditional surveys, which are intended to document the state of properties before works begin. Edghill expressed dissatisfaction after residents indicated they were unaware of such assessments being conducted.

He explained that these surveys are essential to ensure that any damage to property during construction can be properly assessed and addressed. The Minister subsequently instructed the contractor to ensure that all necessary surveys are completed comprehensively before any further work proceeds along the corridor.

The project, described as one of the largest infrastructure undertakings in Berbice, is expected to significantly reshape transportation within Region Six, with Government maintaining that both the pace and quality of works will remain under strict oversight as development continues.