Govt. will pave Placencia Road

In related news closer to the ground, the government has assured residents of the Placencia Peninsula that the long awaited paving of the Placencia road will commence early in the new year. Speaking to a public meeting on Tuesday, Minister of Works, Jose Coye, reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the project, which will upgrade the twenty-one mile route from the present airstrip to the junction of the Southern Highway. The project, expected to cost around twenty million dollars, will include provisions for parking areas and pedestrian walkways in residential areas. While unable to identify a specific source of financing at this time, Coye told the group, which included representative of Placencia, Seine Bight, Maya Beach, and Riversdale, that “the funds will be available.” Coye was accompanied by Chief Engineer Cadet Henderson and Consultant Ian Stenberg, who presented detailed drawings of the route. Also in attendance was area representative Rodwell Ferguson. The minister raised the issue of initiating a toll system to provide for future maintenance as well the possibility of relocating the Placencia airstrip, which has long been the subject of concerns over safety. As an additional piece of good news for residents, B.T.L. today announced that Placencia will shortly receive access to its D.S.L. internet service.