Basseterre, St. Kitts (December 6, 2006): Minister of Public Works, Utilities, Transport, and Posts, Dr. The Honourable Earl Asim Martin told the media yesterday that the government's ambitious road enhancement policy benefited from his trip to Venezuela two weeks ago.
Minister Martin said he and his delegation were able to fast-track a component of the Petro Caribe agreement, which would see bitumen, as well as other petroleum by-products, being shipped here.~~Adz:Right~~
Bitumen, a by-product of fuel production, is used to make asphalt for road construction and resurfacing.
Yesterday morning on SKNIS's "Island Issues", Minister Martin said the quarry already has the other products needed to make asphalt, but the bitumen was the most important product because it binds other road surfacing materials together.
At his afternoon press conference, the Public Works Minister announced that a shipment of 800 barrels of bitumen left Venezuela's capital city of Caracas for St. Kitts around the 1st of December. He said the bitumen will help offset infrastructural damage from torrential rains and vehicular traffic.
Under its road enhancement policy, Government is also employing measures to alleviate another effect of heavy traffic: congestion.
~~Adz:Left~~One such measure is the construction of the West Basseterre Bypass Road, which Minister Martin updated the media on.
"We decided that - based upon the duration of the road - we want certain aspects to be done within a certain time. That is why we decided to start just outside by the airport where the roundabout is. You'll realize that when we have heavy rains we have some problems with drainage, and we really want - when the people are coming for ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 and thereafter - to have a better situation aesthetically at the roundabout," he said.
Minister Martin added it is expected that the West Basseterre Bypass Road will be completed in 18 months.
Meanwhile, the private and public sector push to modernize downtown Basseterre with road improvements will be extended even further. Minister Martin told "Island Issues" that Fort Street will soon be outfitted with ornamental lamps in lieu of its wooden lampposts, and decorative paving stones will be laid out on sidewalks around Basseterre.
