Region Nine gets secures over $4B from Budget 2022

$4.1B has been approved to ensure significant developments are undertaken in the Upper
Takutu/Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) under its 2022 work programme.
Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Nigel Dharamlall, while defending the
region’s budgetary allocation told the Committee of Supply that the region has been severely
neglected for many years. Dharamlall pointed out that since assuming office in 2020,
government promised to improve the lives of the residents, and while this year’s budget would
be unable to properly address every issue within the region, it is a start.
As such, he said $191.5M will be used to enhance the delivery of education in the region. He
noted that students of Sand Creek Secondary will soon benefit from the construction of a female
dormitory, while the Aishalton Secondary School dormitory extension will be undertaken. The
minister pointed out that money has also been earmarked to establish a Cyril Potter College of
Education (CPCE) building at Lethem for trainee teachers. This provision, he said aims to
provide living accommodation for those who wish to further their studies at the institution.
He noted that rehabilitation works will be done on the Annai Secondary School, while
construction of sanitary blocks will be done at Shea, Karaudarnau and Achiwib nursery schools,
and at the Aishalton Primary School. He said that construction and rehabilitation will also be
undertaken at the Karabairu Annex and Para Bara primary school, respectively. “For the first
time, we would be constructing a primary school annex at Parabara since the children have to
traverse across mountains every day to get to school,” he stressed.
Dharamlall pointed out that the investments will provide youths on the coastland and hinterland
regions with equal access to education services. He revealed that $194M has also been budgeted
to improve the region’s health sector. This will see the construction of an Infectious Disease
Centre at Lethem, rehabilitation of the Annai Hospital and maternal ward at Aishalton Hospital.

Minister Dharamlall noted that Lethem Hospital will also establish audio, speech and language
rooms. He said services there will be further boosted through the procurement of an ambulance,
pediatric ventilator for the neo-natal ward, and anaesthetic machines, among others. Several
health posts have also been identified to be converted into health centres. The local government
and regional development minister revealed that $84M has been set aside for road works in the
region. He said the works will complement the projects that will be executed by the Public
Works and Natural Resources ministries. “We are doing repairs to 2 kilometres of the road at
Karasabai, the internal road for Wowetta, road at Massara which suffered some serious damage
from the previous flood, the road from Shulinab to Potarinau, which has not been looked after for
a long time, as well as roads in Rupertee,” he explained.
Minister Dharamlall noted that works on the road from Karaudarnau to Achiwib will be raised,
graded and compacted while sections of roads in Central Lethem will be done with asphaltic
concrete. Dharamlall added that Tiger Pond, Pai Pang and Kokorite residents will benefit from
the construction of wooden and concrete bridges. They will also see the erection of a concrete

bridge at Irimiz, creek. He said $60M has been earmarked for these infrastructural works.
“Sometimes you would probably see a flat savannah in the dry season, but in the rainy season
some areas would have deep ponds. So, we have to build some solid cast culverts in these areas
Achiwib, Sawariwau and St. Ignatius at the cost of $38 million,” he declared.