City enhancement campaign advances
Guyana Chronicle
January 4, 2007
MINISTER of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn has reported considerable progress with the government campaign to enhance the city and its environs in preparation for hosting several major international events this year.
The drive covers garbage collection and disposal, rehabilitating road shoulders and verges, drains and canals and removing impediments, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said yesterday.
The agency said one key aspect of the programme has been to repair and rehabilitate roads and pathways to enable free flow of vehicular traffic and mobility of pedestrians.
Benn, it said, indicated that the work is moving ahead smoothly and the removal has begun, of vistas from along the major highways on East Bank, East Coast, West Bank and West Coast Demerara, in addition to some areas in Regions Five (Mahaica/Berbice) and Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).
ADVANCING: beautifying the city. (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)
He said shaping verges on Mandela Avenue and Vlissengen Road, as well as in Queenstown and parts of North Cummingsburg has also started.
Meanwhile, repairs to roadways in Georgetown have been completed and rehabilitating the Rupert Craig and East Coast Demerara highways has commenced.
Benn said significant government assistance to the drive will support the activities that the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) should be undertaking.
Five of the avenues in the capital, on Main, Carmichael, Waterloo, Thomas and East streets, are being elevated and beautified.
The work involves elevating and concreting them above flood level, clearing and repairing drains, paving roads contiguous to them and levelling parapets.
IN FULL SWING: work advances in the city. (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)
Additionally, damaged garbage receptacles along the avenues will be replaced and works on those in Main, Carmichael and Waterloo streets are nearing completion, with bitumen surfaces already laid.
The task force overseeing this project is headed by President Bharrat Jagdeo but includes Benn, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Kellawan Lall and representatives of the M&CC and the private sector, among others, GINA said.
It said the government has put $200M in an escrow account that can be accessed to enhance various areas and $50M of that sum is for beautifying the city.