—478-acre corridor identified in October Gazette
An order signed by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill on October 20, 2026, declaring the proposed Versailles–Parika highway a public work has been given retrospective effect from November 24, 2023.
Published in the October 24 Official Gazette, Order No. 190 of 2026 identifies an approximately 478-acre road corridor and authorises the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys, together with his agents and workmen, to enter and examine land with a view to acquiring all or part of it.
The schedule describes a strip approximately 300 feet wide, running westwards for about 13 miles from the western boundary of the Schoonord–Crane road reserve to a point south of the Parika Back Dam main road. It refers to a survey plan dated November 17, 2023.
The order does not explain the interval between its signing and its deemed commencement date, nearly three years earlier. Nor does it state whether acquisitions have been completed or compensation paid.
The highway has already been the subject of controversy over its estimated cost.
Kiskadee Watch reported on August 12 that Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed had challenged an approximately $121 billion estimate, comparing it with the $13.3 billion Eccles–Great Diamond four-lane highway.
The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) rejected the comparison, arguing that the completed East Bank Demerara road and the proposed Region Three project differed substantially in scale, engineering requirements and scope.
The authority said the Versailles–Parika project included approximately 20.74 kilometres of main highway, 68.02 kilometres of access-road construction and upgrades, 62 bridges and 3.82 kilometres of revetment works. It also cited extensive ground treatment required for weak, compressible coastal soils.
CH&PA said the Region Three highway required a wider preparation base and argued that comparing headline costs alone gave a misleading picture. At the time of its August statement, it said the project had not yet been awarded.
That response referred both to the approximately $121 billion estimate challenged by Mohamed and an approximately $108 billion programme value.
Stabroek News reported on November 16, 2025, that bids were being invited for construction of the highway in 17 lots, with a delivery period of 20 months. The advertised deadline for submissions to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board was December 22, 2025.
The proposed highway is also intended to connect with other roads being developed in Region Three.
Discussion