A total of $2.3 billion was approved on Thursday evening by the Committee of Supply, for Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni), during the consideration of the 2017 estimates in the National Assembly.
Of the amount approved, $606 million have been earmarked for the improvement of health provision, specifically the rehabilitation of the Bartica Hospital, as well as its doctors and surgeons’ quarters; the rehabilitation of the Kangaruma, Middle Mazaruni Health Centre as well as those at Itaballi, Karrau, Batavia, Agatash and Paruima.
The sum also caters for the provision of service work for the Four Miles Health Centre, Minister within the Ministry of Communities Dawn Hastings-Williams said.
Of equal significance, is the approved sum of $189.291 million, for the maintenance of several major access roads in the Region. These include the Kamarang to Waramadong farm to market access road, the Agatash, Mora Point, Kalkun, Bamford Point, as well as the Kako/Waramadong farm to market road.
Additionally, monies have also been approved for the upgrading of the Agatash main access road, as well as maintenance of bridges, including the one at Wax Creek Bridge, and the Batavia Landing.
Sums were also approved for the construction of revetment at Agatash, Bartica.
Meanwhile, a total of $1.311 million was approved for the Region’s delivery of education, focusing mainly on the maintenance and rehabilitation of several schools, including the rehabilitation of Paruima Primary, the extension of the Chenoweng Primary and repairs to the trestle at Jawalla Primary.
The sum also caters for the maintenance of solar systems in schools and teachers’ living quarters in Upper Mazaruni and Bartica, the maintenance and landscaping of schools in Bartica, and the construction of sanitary blocks at Two Miles, and Jawalla Nursery Schools.
Monies for the completion of Karrau Primary School are also being provided in this overall figure, Hastings-Williams said.
She further noted that the approved funds will go towards dietary programmes for Bartica Secondary, Three Miles Secon-dary dormitory, and the Waramadong Secondary school.
With respect to regional administration, monies to the tune of $233.3 million were approved for the hosting of a round of Regional Democratic Council meetings in the Upper Mazaruni, maintenance of stores and other administrative buildings in Bartica, maintenance of Amerindian hostels in Bartica and Kamarang, and guest houses in Imbaimadai and Paruima.
The junior minister further indicated that funds will also be used to build the capacity of local contractors, so that they too would be able to benefit from tenders within the region.
Additionally, she noted that the sum caters for the provision of fuel to assist indigenous villages to conduct their business, as well as, for furniture and equipment for the Kamarang administrative building.
