Major investments for Regions Seven, Nine and Ten

Residents in Regions Seven, Nine, and Ten are set to benefit from billions of dollars in investments following the approval of budgetary allocations by the Parliamentary Committee of Supply on Wednesday.
These investments span key sectors such as education, agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructure development.
In Region Seven, a total of $5.8 billion was approved. Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag, outlined plans to improve the region’s matriculation rate from 14 per cent in 2024 to 25 per cent in 2025 as part of an education initiative.
The budget includes $85.168 million for school sanitary facility maintenance, $60 million for school building repairs, and $60.5 million for the procurement of school furniture and dormitory amenities.
Additional education initiatives include Mathematics and moral intervention programmes, along with a remedial programme to support National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) students. To assist non-English-speaking students, the budget also provides for the recruitment of Spanish-speaking teachers.
Infrastructure development remains a priority, with $74 million allocated for road maintenance, including $14 million for the Kako-to-Waramadong route. Another $16 million has been earmarked for sea and river defence maintenance at Byderabo Front Road, Agatash, and First Avenue between Sixth and Ninth Streets.
Several heavy-duty timber bridges will also be rehabilitated, with $10 million allocated for Warawatta, $8 million for Kamarang, $11 million for Issano, and $11 million for Waramadong. Additionally, $3.4 million has been allocated for healthcare training, while the agriculture sector will also benefit from training initiatives.
Improving learning facilities
In Region Nine, a total of $7 billion was approved, with $3.74 billion allocated to improving learning facilities and services. Of this amount, $82 million will go toward school maintenance, including repairs at the Lethem Learning and Resource Centre, Semonie Head Teachers’ Quarters, and teachers’ quarters in Potarinau, Kaicumbay, and Kumu. To sustain the government’s dietary programme for dormitory students, $399 million has been allocated.
The region’s agricultural sector will receive $199.5 million to support various initiatives, including the establishment of a $3 million water system, the construction of a foot-and-mouth disease camp, and the development of a data system for plant nurseries and animal tracking.
Funding has also been allocated for the expansion of plantain cultivation, swine breeding units, and plant nurseries. Several schools, including St. Ignatius Secondary, will benefit from the construction of chicken pens, while three new shade houses will be built to support agricultural training and food production.
Infrastructure development in Region Nine will also see $94 million allocated for culvert construction, and $677 million for road, bridge, and other critical infrastructure maintenance. This includes $86 million for improvements to the Toka Farm Road, Kwaimatta-Kurupakari Road, and Meriwau Farm Road, along with $61 million for bridge maintenance.
The health sector will benefit from a $1.96 billion allocation for upgrading facilities and services, with $134 million earmarked for rehabilitating health centres. Additionally, $455.9 million has been allocated for regional administration and finance.
Region Ten has received the largest allocation, with $8.5 billion approved. Of this amount, $5.6 billion has been set aside to enhance education. A sum of $136.5 million will be spent on educational infrastructure maintenance, while $45 million has been allocated for dormitory dietary supplies.
Transportation
To improve student transportation, $23.3 million will be used to purchase several buses, canter trucks, and two all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Public infrastructure in Region Ten will benefit from a $437.7 million investment.
Of this, $70 million will go toward road maintenance in areas such as Amelia’s Ward and Wismar, while $21 million will fund the continued maintenance of sea and river defences at the Riverfront at Mackenzie. Another $7.8 million has been allocated for critical access bridge maintenance, including $30 million for the rehabilitation of Blueberry Hill Bridge in Wismar.
The agricultural sector in the region will receive $109.9 million, with $13 million set aside for works on the fair-weather farm-to-market access road at Kimbia.
Meanwhile, $1.6 billion has been dedicated to healthcare improvements, including the procurement of boats and engines valued at $64.4 million for health facilities in Develdt, River’s View, and Falmouth. Additionally, $105 million has been allocated for the procurement of furniture and equipment to support healthcare services.