14/04/2024
From: Ministry of Public Works
Saturday, April 13, 2024
Press Release
-Citizens continue to welcome infrastructural development across the country
-Appreciative of ministerial outreach to address their concerns
Citizens across the country continue to express their appreciation for the infrastructural advancements taking place in communities throughout the country.
During his latest meeting held with residents along the East Coast of Demerara in direct contact with the East Coast widening road project from Sheriff Street to Orange Nassau, Minister of Public Work, Hon. Bishop Juan Edghill, reiterated that the government is working to ensure that projects are completed on time and with as little inconvenience to citizens as possible.
At his first meeting at Cummings Lodge/ Industry, Minister Edghill, interacted with residents and reassured them that the government would not just take away anybody’s land without engaging them first. He said if someone’s property is in the way of the project, there is a process to follow.
“I am the Minister of Public Works who is responsible for the acquisition of lands for the public good, so if I have to take up a piece of your yard for the road to pass or for the drains, you will be compensated for it based on a procedure that is outlined in the law.”
“If there is a dispute where the reserve starts and ends and you have a transport or a title that shows that what we call the reserve is your land, there is only one way to resolve that, you will bring your transport and we will get the ministry’s surveyor, as well as the contractor surveyor, to do the measurement to make sure we establish the boundary. Nobody will be affected without due process,” The Minister assured.
At the Better Hope meeting, Minister Edghill addressed similar concerns raised by residents reassuring everyone that inconveniences will be as minimal as possible. He said bridges that have been dismantled will be restored.
“Fixing these bridges is part of the contractual obligation.”
“From now on and going forward, if a contractor digs up an area, they have to fix it, they cannot leave it for months, [contractors] if you dig up an area, you have to continuously work until the work is complete,” Minister Edghill stated.
At the Beehive meeting, the Minister and his team addressed the health concerns of residents after hearing complaints of increased dust in the community due to the ongoing project.
“We need to have a systematic sequential operation suppressing the dust to a minimal level, without construction there will be dust on the road, but the construction has magnified the problem, [so] let’s solve this now, the consultant and my staff need to log the wetting, so we will have the necessary information, we will know it is being done,” Minister Edghill directed.
Meanwhile, on the matter of relocating a non-operating shop in the path of the project, the minister has offered to have the contracting team relocate the shop, however, the owners have declined this offer asking instead for financial assistance to do the moving themselves.
In response, Minister Edghill has noted that though the shop is on the government reserve, the government is not opposed to assisting financially, once the cost of the move is not exorbitant.
The family has agreed to present an estimate to the ministry’s consultant in one week.
Minister Edghill wrapped up Saturday’s outreach with a final meeting with residents of Blygezight, on the Railway Embankment, who had similar concerns as the other communities.
-End-
