Sophia Exhibition Centre to get extensive facelift as GuyExpo returns this year

promise the quality of the work. But we have done tremendous work already, and so far, we are on time to complete the work by the end of the contract period,” the minister emphasised.

In December, during an interview, Minister Dharamlall had outlined plans for the modernisation of City Hall.

These included an elevator system for increased accessibility, and a vision for the new building to be utilised as a town hall, where public activities could be hosted.

He also suggested that the building can become one of Guyana’s many tourist sites. “We would like everyone to get an opportunity, on completion of the restoration, to own City Hall as part of the identity of our country,’ he had said.

The City Hall restoration project is scheduled for completion before the end of this year.

The Sophia Exhibition Complex is set to undergo major rehabilitation works in preparation for the hosting of Guyana’s largest trade expo, GuyExpo 2023.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, while defending the $6.53 billion allocated to the ministry for its capital projects, noted that $14.5 million will go towards the refurbishment works at the complex.

The works will entail repairs and recapping of staff quarters, repairs to the fuel bond, installation of storage shelves, refurbishing of the GuyExpo secretariat, repairs to the roof shed, and main stage area at the main auditorium.

The floors, walls and stage of the main auditorium will also be repaired and repainted while defective outlets and lighting fixtures in the office building will be replaced.

Also, a fence will be constructed at a cost of $13.847 million, while $5 million was allocated for the hosting of the activity this year.

GuyExpo was first held in 1995 and was an annual event. It grew to attract hundreds of local and international businesses, creating a platform for producers to showcase and promote their products, and create opportunities for businesses locally and internationally. The event was downsized under the previous APNU+AFC Administration.

Massive development plans for LBI housing scheme

While conducting several site visits along the East Coast of Demerara on Saturday, Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal laid out the infrastructural framework that will see massive development in the La Bonne Intention housing scheme.

lots. The second zone consists of young professional homes. The minister said infrastructural works are being prepared for close to 600 of these homes.

Eastern side is where private investors will be conducting infrastructural works… for high-end housing, hotel type activities and so forth.

More than $3.9 million in contracts were presented to the Kwebanna Village Council for works on the Kwebanna Water Supply System, at Moruca, Region One.

Minister of Housing and Water, Hon. Collin Croal, handed over the contract to the Toshao, Mr. Troy Peters in the presence of the Regional Chairman, Mr. Brentnol Ashley; the Vice-Chairperson, Ms. Annansha Peters; the Director of Hinterland Services at the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Mr. Ramchand Jailal and residents during a village meeting on Saturday.

The drilling of the well for the water supply project has already been completed. The contracts, therefore, provide for the construction of the storage facility and the installation of distribution systems to complete the project; while also providing employment opportunities for villagers.

Minister Croal told residents that the PPP/C Government will continue to make the necessary investments to ensure all Guyanese have access to potable water, in keeping with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The works in the contracts will include: the construction of storage tanks concrete slab; construction of a 25×25 feet perimeter chain link fence around the well site; installation of 720 lengths of 50mm and 300 lengths of 100mm PVC pipelines from the well to the storage tanks and along the distribution network; installation of 220 lengths of 19mm pipelines to accommodate service connections to each resident; installation of PVC pipe fittings; and the provision for a tractor or truck to transport pipes and materials to the project sites from the point of storage.

GWI will be supervising the construction of the storage facility and the installation of the distribution system. Overall, the Kwebanna Water Supply System is pegged at $20 million and will bring firsttime potable water access to residents.

During the meeting residents also raised several issues regarding agriculture, security, infrastructure development and education.

Minister Croal committed to the installation of ten street lights within the next month, at strategic points along the community’s main roadway to enhance their security. More security measures for the community are also in-line.

Meanwhile, the Regional Chairman, Mr. Brentnol Ashley spoke about the extension of the Kwebanna Primary School, rehabilitation of the nursery school, incoming training programmes for nurses at Moruca and other interventions. The matters raised will also be forwarded to the relevant subject Ministers.

He noted that persons who have been allocated lots in the residential areas have been shown their lots and are now able to apply for a mortgage. “All those persons have already started to sign their letters of agreement of sale. We have also sorted out the ownership, because, when we take over, they did not have ownership. So, that is now taken care of,” the minister said.

Some 450 persons were allocated residential lots in the LBI housing scheme.

The area is separated by a series of zones, beginning with the residential house

He highlighted that, similar to the issues in La Reconnaissance, accessibility poses a challenge with the ongoing works. “So, you may see the front of the scheme developing, but then to get access to go inwards is difficult, because sometimes a contractor is waiting on the contractor in front of them, or in another case, we would need to get the access road done in order to have the infrastructure,” he explained.

Meanwhile, minister Croal stated that LBI is being developed to attract private investment, and that road interconnectivity is also a priority in this process.

“The other development that is happening on the

We will also be seeing a commercial zone, which will run close to the road connecting Aubrey Barker to Enmore-Foulis. So, you can see how interconnected all the areas on the East Coast are,” the housing and water minister stated.

The minister assured that this level of development will be duplicated in all regions across the country. “We have to develop all regions, and if we are talking about One Guyana, it means that we will develop all regions,”

He said the allocation of house lots in Region Four is based on availability, pointing out that there is a scarcity of available plots for residential purposes on the East Bank of Demerara.

Nursery schools to be constructed in Swan Village, Non Pareil

As the government continues to ensure accessible education for all, two new nursery schools will be built this year at Swan Village and Non Pareil in Region Four.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, while responding to questions in the National

Assembly’s Committee of Supply, announced that some $355 million will be allocated towards the construction of the schools, among other programmes to enhance education delivery.

The minister also identified other schools that will benefit from rehabilitation, including those at Soesdyke,

Diamond, and Grove. Roads and bridges will also be done in these areas to complement the schools.

In September last, an $89 million nursery school was officially commissioned Martyrs’ Ville, with others commissioned in Abram Zuil, Queenstown, and Sebai in 2022.