By Mark DaCosta- In a recent press statement, the Alliance For Change (AFC) has sharply criticised the current government’s handling of infrastructure projects, highlighting a series of incomplete and poorly executed developments. The AFC points out that, despite the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government having access to unprecedented financial resources, their management of the country’s infrastructure remains deeply flawed.
Upon their return to office four years ago, the PPP/C administration promised rapid advancements in national infrastructure, justifying the awarding of contracts to a new cadre of contractors by claiming these entities had the necessary financial capacity to execute the projects. However, the AFC argues that these contracts were often awarded based on favoritism rather than merit, leading to widespread inefficiencies and project delays.
A glaring example of these issues can be seen in the education sector. The Barmia Primary School remains incomplete a full year past its deadline, despite numerous extensions and excuses. Similarly, North Ruimveldt, St. George’s, and Christ Church Secondary Schools remain unfinished, causing significant disruptions in education. The Karasbai Secondary School project has been at a standstill with no official explanation, leaving students and parents in limbo.
The AFC also points to the prolonged delays in constructing key government buildings. Despite the Ministry of Public Works paying a contractor over GY$ 6 billion since 2022, the multi-story office complex is still in the preliminary design phase. The Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion continues to drag on, four years after the PPP/C took office, with no completion date in sight.
The government’s ambitious plans to build new hospitals in various regions have also faltered. Not a single new hospital has been completed, despite the government’s boasts. The sugar estates, which the PPP/C promised to revitalise, remain unfinished, and the relocation of the Enmore Packaging factory is similarly incomplete.
Road construction projects have been particularly problematic. Cemetery Road has been incomplete for over two years, causing significant inconvenience to the traveling public. Other projects like the Conversation Tree expansion, Lamaha Street upgrade, and the Crane to Schoonard bypass road are also unfinished. Even the celebrated Heroes Highway, though completed, is already showing signs of disrepair, particularly at bridge and culvert approaches, necessitating urgent interventions.
The Linden–Lethem roadway, a critical artery for interior regions, remains incomplete, as do the widening projects for the embankment, the Mahaica road, and the Corentyne highway. The AFC also notes that while numerous roads have been constructed, the design flaws — specifically, the reduced width — make it impossible for two vehicles to traverse simultaneously, leading many to refer to them as “walkways instead of roadways.”
In the energy sector, major projects have stalled or failed to deliver. The Amelia Falls Hydro Project remains at a standstill, despite several attempts to revive it. The Gas to Energy project, on which the government has already spent over US$500 million, is far from completion and now has a revised deadline of late 2025. Despite significant investments in the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), electricity supply remains unreliable, with maintenance of generating sets deferred and the transmission and distribution network described as being “on life support.” Additionally, the Kato Hydro Project and several solar projects initiated under the previous coalition government remain incomplete.
Bridge projects have not been spared from these issues. The New Demerara Harbour Bridge, contracted in May 2022 with a two-year construction timeline, is less than 20% complete and unlikely to be finished before 2026. The promised bridge over the Berbice River has also yet to materialize.
The AFC’s press statement paints a picture of a government struggling to deliver on its infrastructure promises. According to the AFC, the failure to complete these projects not only reflects poor governance but also signifies that the country has not received value for money, with most contracts awarded to post-2020 contractors, allegedly close to the ruling party. As Guyana looks to the future, the AFC’s critique calls for greater accountability and efficiency in managing the nation’s infrastructure development.
