At a press conference held at the Ministry of Transport and Works at 1:00pm on Tuesday, Minister. Hon Clayton Burgin, along with Permanent Secretary, Leon Snagg and Chief Engineer, Jeffrey Cato outlined the government's Projects and Programs for 2007.

According to the Chief Engineer, the main highway from Fancy to Sandy Bay, Sandy Bay to Rabbacca, from Sansouci to Diamond and from Diamond to Kingstown would be completed within an eighteen month period. The plans for Sandy to Rabbacca are currently being finalized. The road from the Rabbacca Bridge to Langley is expected to be completed in March.

The cost of re-constructing these roads is budgeted at over ninety million dollars with government providing forty million dollars and The Caribbean Development Bank providing the remainder. The South Leeward Highway would also commence soon. Surveying of the Cross Country Road is now eighty percent completed. Six million Dollars ($6000.000) would be spent on that road. The Chief Engineer said the Bridge at Warner Corner at Arnos Vale which was built of Culverts many years ago has failed and a temporary realignment of the road is being constructed to facilitate the flow of traffic while the main road is being rebuilt which would be completed in two months. The network of roads throughout the country would be upgraded during this year.

Minister Burgin said the ministry would also be renovating the Registry Building at a cost of ($382.00) three hundred and eighty two thousand dollars; repairing of Jetties and constructing Sea Defense walls at ($900.000) nine hundred thousand dollars. The minister said other buildings to construct include the Customs and Excise, the National Public Library and more Learning Resource Centers throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The Center at Marriaqua is now eighty percent completed; the Calliaqua Town Hall would be renovated to include a Library, Dare-Care Center, Hall for Public Activities, Calliaqua Town Board, Post Office on the ground floor and a Resource Center and Magistrate Court on the upper floor at a cost of ($900.000) nine hundred thousand dollars. Minister Burgin said a major concern is the destruction of public buildings, walls and railings by vehicles. He said the ministry would be vigilant in placing the responsibility on those concerned to pay the cost of repairing the damages.

The Ministry would also be constructing River Defense walls. Mr. Burgin said many people erect buildings very near to the river banks and later when problems develop, those individuals expect the ministry to repair the damages. He is therefore asking the private developers to contact the Ministry of Works for technical assistance before construction.

The Transport and Works Minister said another program is the Electrical re-inspection of buildings built over thirty years ago. He said many of these buildings need to be re-wired to avoid fires and other damages as the old wiring would now be in a poor and unsuitable condition.