Minister promises highway extension completion by year’s end

Minister in the Ministry of Works Richie Sookhai says the widening of the Solomon Hochoy Highway between Chase Village and Chaguanas should be completed before the end of the year.

He gave the assurance as he attended a children’s treat at the Postman Road Recreation Ground, Enterprise, Chaguanas, on Saturday.

Sookhai, who is also the People’s National Movement (PNM) candidate for Chaguanas East in the next general election, said officials at the Programme for the Upgrade or Road Efficiency (PURE) have indicated that the highway widening should not suffer any more delays. He said inclement weather was the main cause of the delay.

The project adds a third lane to both sides of the highway from Bhagwansingh’s Hardware, Chaguanas, in the north, to the Chase Village overpass in the south. This is the first phase in the widening of the highway from Chaguanas to San Fernando. Works commenced in January and were initially expected to be completed in August at a cost of $65 million.

Sookhai also spoke on crime.

“One of the concerns I am hearing from the business community is that of extortion. The Ministry of National Security has the Anti-extortion Unit up and running, and some individuals are reaching out,” he said.

Speaking on crime in Chaguanas East, Sookhai said it has been systemic in the area for a long time and requires a long-term community approach to rebuild the camaraderie in the area.

Contacted yesterday, ASP Ramdhanie Dipchand, of the Central Division, said there would be an increased police presence in all communities for the Christmas season. Dipchand said the public can look forward to a greater police presence in the coming days.

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