Berbice River bridge will be a boon to NA
Kaieteur News
January 22, 2007
NUMBER FIFTY-ONE VILLAGE, CORENTYNE - Mohammed Latif Harun, who represents the People's National Congress Reform—One Guyana on the Regional Agriculture and Drainage and Irrigation Committee, and former Regional Councilor, said that the location identified for the construction of the bridge across the Berbice River would never be accepted by his party.
Their preferred site would have been Ithaca, West Bank Berbice, and BERMINE on the East Bank.
“What you got to understand is that if the bridge was located at Ithaca/BERMINE these areas would eventually rise to the status of township because of all the development that would have taken place there.
“You see Lonsdale and Rotterdam ? They were flourishing in terms of rice and cash crop during (the late President) Burnham days and the PNC time. If the bridge went in that area all these areas would have been upgraded. The drainage and irrigation and everything would have improved and in the process the people's livelihood and the Regional economic status would all have improve.
“The Government ain't putting the bridge there because they trying to run from developing the other areas. They don't want to empower the villages because they are mainly PNC areas.”
Other reasons he cited include a threat to the supply of drainage and irrigation water.
“When they cleaning the Canje Creek the stuff usually float out to the Berbice River and with the bridge there it would caused a problem at the mouth of the river. By constantly accumulating near the buoy, that would anchor the bridge or the pontoon whichever one they use, this constant siltation and piling up of stuff would form a barrier. It would interrupt the free flow of water.”
He opined that this location could also have a negative effect on the Regional agricultural sector.
“The Torani Canal , Canje Creek, all of them get their supply from the Berbice River . Placing the bridge at the mouth of the Berbice River would slow up the flow of water.
“The whole GUYSUCO, the rice and agriculture in general depend on the Canje Creek.”
Region Six Chairman Zulfikar Mustapha said: “That is not the case. The bridge is being built at the present site because of funding. We are not bypassing any village, New Amsterdam or any area.”
According to him, the relocation process began at D'Edward on the West Bank in 2005.
He posited that the Ithaca/BERMINE location would have been too much for Government.
“To do the bridge there you have to do the road on the West Bank and East Bank, so it would cost us another US$18 million. The finance is just not there.
“There were some feasibility studies done and this was a feasible location to build the bridge. Also from this present site of the bridge to New Amsterdam is five minutes drive.”
Initially the project was expected to cost US$13 million including surveying, but this amount increased to US$45 million.
With the D'Edward/Crab Island location identified, an investor has his eyes set on Crab Island for an oil refinery.
“The bridge will cross Crab Island but at the same time, Crab Island will develop…A company wants to invest US$500 million. We have the capacity right here to build a deep water harbour.”
Both Government and the investor are now engaged in discussion.
“And more so several people would come to New Amsterdam to do their business. I feel from an economic perspective more people would be coming to New Amsterdam because more people would be crossing the river by way of the bridge, which would be a more reliable service.”
He dismissed the allegations leveled against the administration as claims that the opposition parties cannot justify.
“We have been doing work in all the areas across the country. In New Amsterdam the government is spending over $400 million to rehabilitate streets all across the town. The government is spending almost $190 million to rehabilitate the New Amsterdam Market. The Regional Democratic Council is spending $5 million to repair the East Bank Berbice road.”
Recently, Government constructed an abattoir in New Amsterdam at the cost of $19 million.
“In Lighttown we have tendered out the main drainage canal at a cost of over $5 million. Our (Regional Democratic Council) excavator is now working in Kortbraadt and will be going to Lighttown shortly so that farmers can get better drainage and irrigation in those areas. We are not discriminating, no matter whether it is an opposition area or a Government area!”
These areas are all on the East Bank Berbice.
Since Mustapha assumed office, more than 45 public meetings were held during the newly introduced Regional Outreach Programme.
“We went to Kortbraadt recently and we donated a set of sports gear to the youths in that area. Since we took over we are visiting all the areas across the Region, including areas in which the opposition is claiming they have support.
“Recently we visited Lancaster , Liverpool, Manchester , Alness, Lighttown and Kortbraadt. We are not discriminating! We are trying our best to develop the community and in the process improve the living conditions of all residents.”
Touching on the supply of drainage and irrigation water being interrupted by the intended location of the bridge the Regional Chairman said, “That is why a feasibility study was conducted to iron out all of these issues. At the RDC level we have been cleaning the Canje Creek; and not only those areas mentioned by the opposition depend on the Canje Creek, but areas like Black Bush Polder and Number 52/74 also receive irrigation water from the Canje Creek. So this bridge will not impede any water to the farmers across the Region.”
According to him, this year a large portion of the Regional Budget would be spent on the maintenance of the Canje Creek.
“Systems would be in place to ensure that no grass or vegetation would be blocking any part of the Canje Creek.”