Fighting four formidable foes

President Dr. Irfaan Ali identified four formidable foes his administration fought during its first
year after winning the bruising 2020 polls: the global pandemic; nationwide flooding;
rehabilitating rundown infrastructure, and countering Venezuela’s 120-year-old illegal claims for
a sizeable portion of the homeland.
“The good of the nation and the welfare of our people are always our first priority. This first year
has seen success at the International Court of Justice in its ruling that the Court has jurisdiction
to entertain Guyana’s claim concerning the validity of the 1899 award. It is the first step on our
way forward to confirming Guyana’s patrimony, and we are proceeding with vigour and
confidence to the next stage of the judicial Hearing on the Merits of our Case” President Ali said.
He said rather than cower, true to the character of the nation, Guyana likewise, confronted the
other challenges.
“We have had to deal with the widespread flooding occasioned by heavier than normal rainfall –
a clear sign of the disastrous effects of climate change. All of this threatened the livelihoods of
hundreds of thousands of our people and placed an enormous strain on our economy,” President
Ali said during his recent broadcast to the nation.
On the infrastructural front, Ali spoke at length about his administration’s efforts to modernise
this sector through improved connectivity with the country’s neighbours and trading partners to
help expand the economic space in which they operate.
Towards this end, the President highlighted a number of projects to fulfil these ambitions. He
spoke of “construction of the Lethem to Linden Road (which) has commenced with the Linden
to Mabura section already tendered. Expressions of interest have already been received for a new
bridge across the Corentyne river in partnership with our Surinamese neighbours”.

“To ensure we develop enough capacity to service the oil and gas sector, the Government of
Guyana welcomes private sector investment to construct multiple shore-based and deep-water
facilities at the mouths of the Demerara and Berbice rivers. Works that would see hundreds of
millions of U.S dollars invested by private investors have commenced.”
He spoke of expanding access to productive lands for agricultural and other productive purposes.
Construction and rehabilitation of a network of thoroughfares have commenced to attract new
investors and developers to participate in the development thrust, the president explained.
“The No.58 to Canje Creek Road is already at the tendering stage with works expected to be
commence before the end of the year. Parika to Goshen Road – the clearing of the alignment and
surveying has commenced. Timehri to Bartica link connecting Sand Hills to Makouria – clearing
of alignment and surveys have commenced on this project. As well as a vast array of new and
upgraded roads in the intermediate savannahs and the hinterland regions”.
Linking communities across the country is also a key plank in Ali’s administration five-year
development programme.
“The new bridge across the Demerara River has already been tendered and is expected to open
on October 3 rd , 2021. The new road from Schoonard to Parika- the feasibility study has been
completed and we are at the design and finance stage. The new highway from Eccles to Mandela
Avenue has commenced and is expected to be completed long before the end of the year. Works
on the further expansion of this highway from Eccles to Diamond has already commenced with
designs and costings completed. To complement this, the Ogle to Eccles highway is expected to
be awarded by the end of this quarter with works commencing before the end of the year.
Further, efforts to secure financing for the Ogle to Diamond, and from Diamond to Timehri
phases of this project have also commenced with the feasibility study already completed,” he
stated.
He continued, “Pre-construction feasibility studies and efforts to secure financing for the further
extension of the four-lane road on the East Coast of Demerara to at least Mahaica has also
commenced. Project planning and pre-design analysis for a four-lane Corentyne highway
upgrade has commenced. The objective of this project is the construction of an upgraded four-

lane highway from New Amsterdam to Skeldon. The rehabilitation of Soesdyke to Linden
highway has commenced. Works on community roads, streets, and residential areas have
commenced in all 10 Administrative Regions. Works on aerodromes and air strips have also
commenced, with Lethem’s extended runway already completed and works to the CJIA to secure
two additional air-bridges, 30 new shops in the commercial centre and completion of the front
side curtain-walls. All expected to be completed by the end of the year”.
The country’s river transport systems have not been forgotten in the modernising push, President
Ali assured.
“We have already commenced upgrading of many stellings and we expect to secure a new
ocean-going ferry in 2021. This contract has already been awarded 10 months ago with a
construction period of 18 months,” the President said.