The Minister of Housing and Water, recently signed contracts totaling $11.8 billion at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) for the construction of a new four-lane highway from Schoonord to Crane on the West Bank and West Coast of Demerara.
While welcoming the new infrastructural project, APNU+AFC Geographic Member of Parliament for Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three), Ganesh Mahipaul said that the APNU+AFC had as part of its plan to construct four-lane highways from Crane to Free and Easy, linking schoonord and the Del conte to Makourna.
MP Mahipaul, however, welcomed the Government’s focus on at least a part of the APNU++AFC bigger vision. The Member of Parliament stated that the contract signed is for a four-lane highway, 3-9 km in distance, and is awarded to the tune of $11.8B to eight contractors.
“Notwithstanding the above, what worries me about this project is the cost. A similar project for the construction of the Eccles to Mandela four-lane highway, 2.8 km in distance was constructed to the tune of $2.3B. Based on this already constructed Eccles to Mandelafour-lane highway, one km of road of this nature on the coastland should cost us, taxpayers, somewhere around $8ooM. But for this Schoonord to Crane four-lane highway, one km is costing the taxpayers $3B and the feature of this road is not much different from the Eccles to Mandela four-lane highway. Thís is a significant difference in terms of cost,” Mahipaul stated.
The Shadow Minister of Local Government wants, in the interest of transparency, accountability, and good governance, the Government to make public the feasibility study for this project. “Development is a must, and we must welcome it with both hands, but wastage of taxpayers’ money and corruption must never be tolerated,” he said in an APNU+AFC press statement.
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