Dear Editor,
President Irfaan Ali, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, AG Anil Nandlall, and the Ministry of Agriculture have come in for praise for road projects and drainage works that make streets transferable, and for flood alleviation in remote areas.
Across the country, roads are being rehabilitated or paved or patched; and new roads and other infrastructure works, such as digging new drains or cleaning existing drains, are being carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture to open up large, fresh areas for housing and farming development.
As I toured the country, the public showed glowing honors to the President, AG, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, and Ministers Juan Edghill and Deodat Indar for infrastructure projects.
The President is commended for taking the bull by the horns in road transport. He is praised for immediately establishing new roads along the East Bank of Demerara (Region 4). The President, some time ago, announced a similar new road project for Region 3: from Parika to the planned new Harbor Bridge linking the West Bank to the West Bank across the Demerara River. A similar project is now needed on the East Coast road to connect it to the East Bank.
The public recognizes that, while not directly concerned with infrastructure or agriculture, the AG has general jurisdiction over legal matters concerning all Ministries and Government as a whole. It provides guidance on all legal issues, including on land and contracts on infrastructure and drainage. In addition, in interacting with the public during Cabinet cases and consultations, the AG has committed that the Government would re-establish existing roads and / or build new roads, and neglected service communities during five years. years of the coalition regime.
The public gain confidence in the RE, giving it an almost perfect score for its performance. Nandlall has received the highest positive rating of all Ministers in opinion polls conducted in November and January. At his media press conferences, the AG noted President Ali’s plan on infrastructure and housing work, emphasizing that the current road projects are not the big projects planned for the future. The road from Linden to Lethem is on the cards.
The President is being praised for his vision to build new roads that open up large parts of the country for housing development away from the public highway and coast. It is visionary leadership. The planned new roads create opportunities for land to be converted into housing lots, as well as for farming and other aspects of development.
The Diamond-to-Eccles road is welcomed by residents in Georgetown and on the East Bank. As they point out, it would relieve traffic congestion on the East bank, where there is peak traffic congestion. Motorists from other areas would also benefit from the new roads that bypass the busy main public road on the east bank of Demerara. In addition, the new Diamond-Eccles access road would make land available for thousands of new housing lots at the rear of the industrial area alongside the main moat that once served the estate’s cane fields. Minister Collin Croal would be pleased that land has become available for housing development.
Other parts of the country also need new and extended roadworks. As I noticed, for example, the East Coast experiences heavy traffic during peak hours. There are several congestion on the road from Georgetown to the East Coast, where lots of traffic lights catch up traffic. Restoration has been carried out during the previous regime on that stretch of road, but sections of the road are uneven, especially around bridges, and some areas are in poor condition. The old format of road construction with traffic control lights is not the most effective; First World countries avoid that approach where practicable.
There are too many vehicles on the road from G / town to the East Coast. The Government will have to look at overhead or underground passenger tickets, or synchronize traffic lights with the flow of vehicles. Roads also need upgrading and widening, to improve conveyance. But East Coast has almost no place in some villages, with roads running only feet from people’s yards. It’s only a matter of time before cars end up in people’s yards; toddlers can play on the highway parapet.
That main road has been a disaster court. Another expressway away from residential settlements further inland would be ideal. The Government may want to look at Aruba, for example, where land is scarce but the Government was able to build a large First World highway off the main road that runs alongside hotels on the beach. A similar expressway through GuySuCo lands is feasible. It can tie Mandela Ave, Sheriff Street, the bypass from Eccles to Diamond, and the planned Agricola road to the railway.
Expressway would reduce commuter delays and highway traffic congestion. It will also help to reduce accidents on the highway, and through extended deaths.
The inland road widening network aligns with Dr Jagan’s sustainable policy, articulated in the early 1960s. Jagan had a practical vision of opening up inside agricultural development, animal husbandry and dairy production. He conceived of road building in the interior as well as from farms to markets to facilitate farmers, cattle shepherds and poultry producers. President Ali follows in Jagan’s footsteps in linking the interior to the coast.
With the new roads, President Ali sends a clear signal that the Government would not rely on oil and gas to drive the economy. The Government does not rely on oil, but is diversifying the economy with an emphasis on food production. Tens of thousands of acres of land will be opened for farming, cattle rearing, poultry and egg production, and a growing dairy industry.
The public has expressed support for the Government’s new access routes, praising the work of Ministers Edghill and Indar Public Infrastructure, and Minister Zulfikar Mustapha of Agriculture.

Truly,
Vishnu Bisram

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