another $100M has been budgeted to complete the new army base in Essequibo

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The Guyana Defence Force will, this year, commence construction of a Coast Guard base in Berbice, and a senior officer’s accommodation complex and wharf at Ruimveldt.The total cost of the projects is set at $103.2M, hence completion of the new Coast Guard base is unlikely this year.The long-awaited project is aimed at improving the operational efficiency of the army given the territorial uncertainty in that section of the country as it relates to the Corentyne River and Suriname.The role of the Coast Guard in Guyana is to conduct maritime surveillance of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ);to enforce all maritime laws on and under the high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of Guyana; and to conduct operations in support of land forces.Meanwhile, another $100M has been budgeted to complete the new army base in Essequibo, as well as some additional buildings at Tacama, Timehri, Camp Stephenson and Base Camp Ayanganna.Among some of the other projects to be undertaken by the army this year is the construction of a new $23M well at Timehri, aimed at improving water supply.An additional $28M has also been budgeted for the provision of drainage at Training Corps and the rehabilitation of a bridge at Camp Ayanganna.The docking and rehabilitation of one of the army’s ships has also attracted a $264M allocation.