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Many Guyanese I guess have been taken by surprise after the announcement by Mr. Ifraan Ali on the construction of a similar bridge across the Demerara River to be built across the Berbice River. On reading this latest announcement, I can only say to myself that the PPPC is clearly out of their minds and the only intentions they have is to continuously “plunder away at taxpayers monies,” without accountability and transparency; just to satisfy their greed for enrichment. Hence, they come up with these grandeur projects to sway the minds and hearts of Guyanese.
As I have been saying and will continue to say to my Guyanese brothers and sisters, be mindful of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic’s (PPP/C) false promises and propaganda. The trick is that we are in a pre- elections year and the modus operandi of the PPP/C is to sell dreams and by doing so, they sprung these “pie in the sky projects.” It has become depressing when one has to sit and endure the LIES and MISINFORMATION from political leaders. It is time they be confronted and be called out!
My reference is drawn to an online news article published by INews Guyana, on Sunday, August 25, 2024 mere hours before bids went on sale. They have reported Ali as saying, “New Berbice River Bridge to have futuristic design.” They are many questions to this latest announcement. However, I will not seek to regurgitate the questions published by AFC through its press release, but support the questions asked. It is clear to all that the PPPC lacks the ability and capacity to govern this nation, with the abundance God has bestowed upon it. What I do know is that they are good at stealing and syphoning off the people’s money and patrimony. Perhaps, this is another attempt to blatantly get their hands on the nation’s money.
It is troubling to know that for the year 2024, the regime has withdrawn US$850M from the natural resource fund. Guyanese are oblivious as to where, on what projects and costs for projects the funds are expended on. I can only characterize such actions by the regime as “despotic.”
The PPPC through their main mouthpiece, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo oftentimes while hosting his uninspiring weekly pressers, would want Guyanese to believe that they have the best plans across sectors to govern our nation.
Well, I guess at his next presser he will inform the nation from which plan the idea of a ‘futuristic design’ for the Berbice River Berbice be found and where can this plan be located for public review. In the INews article, they quoted, “the Head of State, who first floated the idea of a new Berbice River bridge back in October 2022, explained that this structure will be built under the same system used for the new four-lane high-span bridge currently being built across the Demerara River.”
Truth be told, I never read of such an idea by Ali, nor have I any recollection of such an idea discussed at the level of the National Assembly. What I recall is the possibility of bridging the Suriname River and Corentyne River. These discussions seemed to be a major priority for the PPPC government upon taking government in 2020. The nation was told that there were talks between Suriname President, Mr. Santoki and Mr. Ali. Well, it seems as though this project is being shelved, since there are no longer fruitful and successful discussions between the two administrations, hence the reason for this idea of a ‘futuristic design bridge for Berbice.’
Perhaps I am missing something. It will be of interest to know where in the world would a government operate the way the PPP/C does? Everyday prices are increasing for basic food commodities, and cost of living skyrocketing; though fuel has remained 0% taxed, but this gang of leaders amongst themselves would determine overnight what is best for the nation when it comes to major projects; but failed miserably in finding short to long term solutions in addressing the needs of the ordinary citizens in Guyana, who are struggling to supplement, to make betterment for themselves and families.
Additionally, the online news outlet carried a photo depicting the possible ‘futuristic design’ of the bridge, including a notice published by the Ministry of Public Works inviting prequalified contractors to procure bid documents on Monday, August 26, 2024 with a reopening of bids on September 18, 2024. In the very article, this is what Mr. Ali stated, “In the coming days, the Cabinet will be discussing an approach in relation to improving competitiveness, cost of transportation, and also the efficiency of moving goods and services and people on both the Demerara River Bridge and the Berbice River Bridge. These are two critical connections to the rest of our economic ecosystem, and also the movement of people within our system.”
As such, before the end of this year, I’ll be addressing these matters nationally, and I’ll be making some pronouncements that would ensure improved competitiveness in terms of transport costs, increase efficiency and reliability, and I can assure that all decisions will definitely be to the benefit of consumers, businesses and the expansion of the economic activity that is taking place in Regions 5, 6, 3, 4, and all across the country.”
The aforementioned should be of concern to all right thinking Guyanese. It seems to me that the Ali/Jagdeo regime has placed the horse before the cart and they don’t know what they are about. How can you say to the people of Guyana that the Cabinet will be examining things such as transportation costs, etc? Any good manager worth his or her salt would ensure that these factors are carefully examined, prior to an announcement as was made by Mr. Ali. Once this was done, the government would be in a better position to determine whether the project is feasible or not.
This arrangement reminds me of the many FAILED mega projects under the Jagdeo legacy, to mention a few: Skeldon modernization (done by Chinese), CJIA expansion (Chinese Contractors). The latter is still being executed after some fourteen years when the contract was inked just before Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo left office between 2010-2011.
With all the scandals, massive corruption in high places, VISA revocations and the numerous unauthorized, non-transparency of taxpayers money being distributed as cash grants to party faithfuls will not seek to distract Guyanese from The Real issues happening in this country. It is a known fact that our nation is not being governed in the interest of ALL Guyanese. The PPPC is fully guilty and Guyanese, it’s TIME we unite in strength to crush the monster enemy, the PPPC.
Therefore, I am calling on the PPP/C to come clean regarding this project, which involves taxpayers’ monies to be invested. Publicise the entire study, lay it in the National Assembly.
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