Relief coming for Scotland District

Work on the quarter-billion dollar Scotland District Road Rehabilitation Project is scheduled to begin as early as next week.

Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Works, Santia Bradshaw, made the revelation in Parliament today.

Ms Bradshaw says the contract has been awarded to “COMPLANT”. That is the same contractor working on the Sam Lord’s Castle project which is due to be completed in December.

According to the Acting Prime Minister, the Scotland District Project is to commence with two sample roads in St Andrew.

Minister Bradshaw was speaking as the Lower House debated a resolution to borrow more than 256 million dollars from China for the road repairs.

Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Ryan Straughn, introduced the motion for the special loan from China’s Export Import Bank.

Noting the Scotland District accounts for a seventh of the country’s physical space, he said the project is critical to ensure no part of Barbados is cut off or unable to access critical services such as the ambulance and fire service.

The signing of the loan agreement has been tentatively set for July 1, and both Ms Bradshaw and Mr Straughn say it is at a highly concessional rate of two per cent interest annually.

The repayment will be done in 31 semi-annual instalments.

During the debate, we were also told priority is being given to addressing the road troubles plaguing the people of White Hill, St Andrew.

Currently, two designs for the area are being considered.

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