KINGSTON - The Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) was so renamed from the Ministry of Public Works, by the Coalition Government after assuming office, to demonstrate the emphasis that will be placed on this ministry.
MPI is quite large and has the following agencies: Works Services Group (WSG) - which executes roads, bridges and sea defence projects; Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) - responsible for the waterways, specifically ensuring safety thereon, and stakeholders comply with necessary regulations; Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC); Guyana Energy Agency; Guyana Power and Light Inc.; Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA); Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC); Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) with responsibility for wharves and motor vessels which provide vital services to citizens; and the Public Utilities Commission. Other agencies include the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), and Hinterland Electrification Co. Inc.
The administration believes that in order for Guyana’s economy to be transformed to the extent that the country’s Gross Domestic Product flourishes and citizens in similar manner so benefit, the administrative regions must be opened up. This will provide much needed access for farm to market roads, hinterland to coast linkages and a paved road network leading into Brazil.
Restoring Georgetown
The year 2015 saw the new administration placing significant emphasis to return Georgetown to the state where it can once again be called ‘the garden city’. Simultaneously, the aesthetics of outlying regions were also improved.
Whilst the clean-up efforts presented a new look for the country, they formed part of the administration’s efforts to address drainage issues, as clogged drains, alleyways and garbage piles in and around central Georgetown were major contributors to flooding during heavy rainfall periods.
The clean-up campaign saw a complete transformation of Le Repentir Cemetery, the construction of the D’urban Park and Merriman’s malls as community play grounds and the desilting of the city’s outfall channels.
In taking the fresh approach to the WSG, a historic decision was taken with regards to substandard work. Contractor H. Nauth and Sons who executed works on the East Bank Berbice Road, was ordered to do corrective works to the 12 kilometres (km) of road, before handing it over to the Ministry. In a similar stand, the contract for the construction of the East Bank Demerara Road from Providence to Covent Garden was terminated after the contractor failed to honour his contractual obligations over an unduly extended period of time.
Project Monitoring
For the ministry to truly deliver quality infrastructure to citizens, strong direction and focus would be needed as such, 2015 saw the groundwork being laid to have qualified technical staff that will monitor the implementation of projects.
Cabinet gave its approval for the establishment of an inspectorate department which will be tasked with inspecting all government works, not only those that are under the MPI's purview, but all capital works and maintenance contracts. This new mechanism will ensure that taxpayers are given value for money with projects. Additionally a number of engineers and technical personnel will be placed in each administrative region. That way, works being executed in the region will be properly monitored .
This move to have a strong technical oversight unit to implement and monitor projects comes as the government in 2016 intends to continue rolling out its ambitious infrastructure and energy programme, along with the liberalising of the telecommunications sector.
With this being done,, the ministry will be in a position to better manage projects which translate into less taxpayers’ money being wasted.
New roads
President David Granger, during the year had announced his plan to link the coast to the hinterland. This move will see in the first instance projects such as the Del Conte road being implemented, followed by the Free and Easy road, which when completed will provide paved farm to market roads for farmers along with improved road networks into hinterland areas.
The administration in recognising the urgency to open up space for agriculture land has secured overseas funding for the construction of a bypass road from Ogle on the East Coast of Demerara to Diamond on the East Bank Demerara. This project will come on stream for 2016, along with the Del Conte road project- which is a paved road from Parika into Goshen, providing farm to market access to dozens of farmers. Simultaneously, it provides another road link into a mining community along with the opening up of hundreds of acres of land that can be used for the further development of the country. Other projects would include the Linden-Lethem paved network, the Free and Easy project which is at the back of Wales- and will see a paved road going further inland. This means that Region Three will be completely opened up from Free and Easy into Sand Hills. This is a proposal that was submitted to Cabinet during 2015 for its deliberations. Such a project will see the opening up of three million acres of farm land for the agriculture industry.
It is becoming more evident that the basis, on which the current administration is planning its infrastructure programme, is to open new lands, make it available to Guyanese and suitable to investors so the country can expand, along with a new fixed structure across the Demerara River as the amount of traffic that will be generated between Regions 3 and 4, cannot be accommodated by the existing structure. This new fixed structure will have a minimum of two lanes each way, and a pedestrian and bicycle lanes. Because there will no longer be a need to retract, all ocean going vessels will now be unfettered.
CJIA
The year also saw the new administration re-negotiating the project for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. The expansion works will be completed in 2017, with a completely upgraded runway and terminal buildings, all at no extra cost to the government.
An upgraded airport means that Guyana can be used as a major trans-shipment hub for cargo and passengers destined for Northern Brazil, as this route will prove significantly cheaper compared to what currently exists.
River transport
The designs for two new ferry vessels were completed as part of the ambitious infrastructure programme by the new administration. One of the ferries will be utilised along the Berbice River. Areas such as Mara and further inland represent the country’s rich virgin soil for agriculture produce with good yields, therefore farmers in that location will soon have a means of transporting their produce from the farm to the market at a significantly reduced cost.
The other ferry will be replacing the aging Lady Northcote that serves the North West District.
Guyana has unfortunately seen its sea and water frontage only being used as wharves and Stellings where ships dock. This practice the new government intends to move away from by developing from the Seawall bandstand to the Kitty pump station and further, into a commercial zone for recreation. It will also be outfitted with a boardwalk for concerts and a cycling and running track for persons to exercise.
In 2015 submissions were made for Cabinet’s approval to move the Stabroek, Vreed-en-Hoop and Parika wharves to develop them into commercial spaces so that boats cannot only dock, but other activities will take place, resulting in further economic prospects for the country.
Lady Northcote, MV Kimbia and Barima, and Sandaka which plies Parika-Leguan route were also docked for maintenance works during the year. Outside of the docking of vessels, the T&HD’s sports club in Thomas Lands was resuscitated as a means of recreation and relaxation for employees.
As this department prepares to celebrate its 85th Anniversary, the first month in 2016, the administration intends to resuscitate the operations of the Mazaruni dock yard.
Aviation
As works progressed in the varying infrastructural departments, aviation also received the necessary boost and re-aligning that were needed to support the fresh approach the administration intends on taking.
A Memorandum of Understanding and one of Agreement were signed during 2015, both of which will improve aviation security activities as they will provide extra cargo scanners, training and other support initiatives in the area of security. The agreement that was signed with the United Arab Emirates will now allow for that airline to provide service to Guyanese by having scheduled flights.
The security memorandum of understanding that was signed exposed the need to have an amended Civil Aviation Act. The Act did not satisfy the security requirement of the regulatory agency IKO. As such an amended one was prepared during the year and was submitted to the Attorney General for review, after which it will be tabled in the National Assembly early 2016.
Importantly for 2015, government successfully tackled the the issue of air traffic controllers striking, but recommending those who were acting for a number a years to be appointed in their substantive position. This move was done as they recognise human resource is an important factor which is critical to the effective functioning of any department. Fourteen (14) persons were employed in the aviation security department and a number of employees were given opportunities both internally and externally to be exposed to training which will continue in 2016.
Cabinet approved the development of the approximate 160 airstrips countrywide, as such a committee was formed which will provide a report into the phased development of the said airstrips. (A GINA Feature)
