PM announces approximately $3 million for new projects

Three contracts were this week awarded for works to be done on river and sea defences, as well as the Basin Hole Bridge in Georgetown.{{more}}

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves on Wednesday announced that nearly three and a half million dollars will be spent to rehabilitate and reconstruct a number of areas, which were damaged or destroyed during the April 11, 2011 flash flood, which caused damage to the tune of millions of dollars.

Gonsalves made the announcement at the handing over ceremony of houses that were constructed for persons who lost their homes during the freak storm.

He outlined the work to be done, and indicated that work on the affected areas will begin this year, by contractors, yet to be announced.

“One to do the river defenses in Langley Park, just over $800,000. To do the river defences at Basin Hole… come down to the sea; and at the sea, towards the southern side at the Georgetown side of the sea front, we are doing 130 feet of sea defence there. That is costing nearly $900,000.”

And there is a third contract to be given to do the bridge and the road work, adjoining the bridge. That’s 1.6 million dollars.

“To fix the Basin Hole area, we should be able to start the project just after carnival; just after GAO sing.”

The Prime Minister pointed out that another $28.4 million, which was borrowed from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), has been allocated for the work on other infrastructural projects, slated to begin in 2013.

These include the rehabilitation of the Marriaqua Community Center and the reconstruction of the Campden Park Community Centre, work on the Lowmans/ Lauders main road, river defence systems at Grand Sable, Miss Jane River, Caratal and Langley Park, sea defenses at Sandy Bay and Dark View in Rose Bank, and the rebuilding of the Byrea Bridge, Caratal Bridge and Miss Jane Bridge.

“Then there is another set of money under the World Bank, for certain infrastructure in health,” Dr Gonsalves added.

“Ten million Euros, or 36 million Eastern Caribbean. These are also going to start construction next year; all the designs are being completed this year: Buccament polyclinic, Mespo polyclinic, renovation at the Mental Health Centre, Milton Cato Memorial Hospital Renovations, Union Island hostel, Canouan doctors’ quarters, Chateaubelair doctors’ quarters, Mespo doctors’ quarters, Sandy Bay doctors’ quarters.”

According to the Prime Minister, yet another five million dollars made available by the European Union, will be used for work on the rehabilitation of the Grand Sable Bridge, the Congo Valley road as well as the main road in that area. These jobs, he said, will commence later this year.

He went on to outline a series of other projects that are slated to commence soon, including the hospitality and maritime training institute at Diamond in July, as well as the refurbishing of a number of schools and community centres.(JJ)