Work to improve a critical section of the Mandela Highway through Central Village came to a sudden halt Thursday after criminals attempted to extort contractors from the National Works Agency (NWA). The construction crew, who had begun preparations to patch the damaged roadway, was forced to abandon the site in the face of these threats.
However, Works Minister Robert Morgan is standing firm. In a release, he declared that the government will not be deterred by criminal actions and that the improvement work will resume with the necessary security measures in place.
Minister Morgan confirmed that he has engaged the police high command to ensure the security forces are mobilized so that the work can proceed without further disruptions.
This section of the Mandela Highway is part of the government’s broader initiative to repair corridors affected by Hurricane Beryl and subsequent rains under the $3 billion Relief Emergency Assistance and Community Help (REACH) programme.
