Georgetown: The government has entered into two external loan agreements with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for enhancing the water and transportation sectors.
According to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, at hisweekly Post-Cabinet press briefing earlier Friday the loans are in the sums“US$1,265,000 [GYD $264.3M] for water sector enhancement project andUS$4,367,000 [GYD$92.2M] to finance the transport sector enhancement project.”
The water sector enhancement project will include a study to determine the feasibility of utilizing the Hope Canal as a source of potable water, the crafting of a National Water Policy and financing the institutional strengthening of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and the Ministry of Communities.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State said, “The transport sector enhancement project will include the construction of a new bridge at Wismar, Linden, Region 10, a new Stelling at Parika, Region Three and upgrading the aerodrome at Lethem in Region Nine.”
The agreements are to be laid before the National Assembly in keeping with the laws of Guyana.
“Cabinet approved the loan agreements and directed that they be laid in the national assembly in accordance with Section 3:6 of the external loans act chapter 74:08 of the Laws of Guyana,” Minister Harmon stated.
With regards to the Lethem Aerodrome, the objective of the consultancy is to conduct a feasibility study and to prepare detailed designs, drawings, cost estimates and bid documents for design workers for the upgrade of the Lethem Aerodrome to an appropriately specified airport.
The airport will be key to the improvements in Region Nine. With a bridge at Takutu River, linking the country. Lethem has been officially named a town and there are ongoing developments for commercial zones, among other development, with eyes being cast for increased trade with Brazil.
Construction of the new bridge at Wismar, Region 10, will take eight months. The almost 50-year-old bridge is deteriorating and the alarm was sounded last year about its condition. The structure connects Wismar and Mackenzie and is a critical gateway to the hinterland.
The Hope Canal is the waterway constructed a few years ago from the East Demerara Water Conservancy as alternative drainage to the Atlantic Ocean.
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