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As we told you arlier, the budget debate continued today and once again, the opposition bench was practically empty - only Shyne Barrow and Patrick Faber showed up briefly. But even to the sound of one hand clapping, the PUP members made their presentations, starting off with the Cayo South area rep, Julius Espat.
Espat is also the Minister of Infrastructure Development, and he has several projects lined up for the next fiscal year. He gave a summary of some of the road works you'll be seeing.
Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development & Housing
"The first project that we have been working on which has not been approved for this fiscal but we have done work for it is the George Price Highway upgrading project from Belize City to Belmopan. That project is broken up into five lots, Swing Bridge being the first lot, Belcan Bridge being the second lot, Belize City to Hattiville being the third lot, Hattieville to La Democracia being the fourth lot and La Democracia to Belmopan being the fifth lot.
"North Ambergris road has been put as part of our budget, this year's budget will allow the feasibility studies to commence and the planning stage to commence. It won't give us the ability to do more in a year. And then the budget will allow us to pave the road from Dangriga to Commerce Bight."
"Paving of the San Estevan to Progresso Road. A mile has already been contracted out and we are proposing to put in two miles more and I don't see the member here from Corozal Southeast but he has been lobbying for this for quite some time, it is a continuation of the project we started going to San Estevan. And then the paving of Towerhill to Guinea Grass."
"This is something that we will eventually join up with the Ministry of Tourism, it is the Placencia Peninsula street project. This will be the start of a road safety project on the Placencia peninsula inclusive of pedestrian walkways, bicycle paths, along with proper signage and shoulder enhancement."
"Repurposing of sections of the Haulover Bridge to connect Santa Familia to the Twin Towns. That is something that is critical for the Cayo District and this is the first time we will be repurposing the bridge from Haulover that's we are taking down the bridge and refurbishing it because a section of that bridge will go to the Santa Familia San Ignacio crossing. [00:46:23.04]
"Then we have the rehabilitation of sections of the Southern highway from Stann Creek Valley junction going south all the way to the Placencia roundabout."
"And then we have my brother from Rural North, paving of the Lucky Strike to Maskall."
