Duncan Flags Delays, Transparency Gaps in Mabaruma Road Projects

A Partnership for National l Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan has raised concerns over delays, poor execution and a lack of transparency surrounding two major road projects in Mabaruma, Region One, following a four-day visit to the area earlier this month.

In a statement issued on Tuesday Duncan said he visited Mabaruma from January 9 to 12, accompanied by MP Juretha Fernandes and other team members, to assess infrastructure projects after repeated complaints from residents.

He identified the G$80.6 million Barabina Hill Road Project and the G$200 million Silver Hill (Hobo Hill) Road Project as emblematic of what he described as a pattern of “announcements without delivery, weak accountability, and poor execution.”

On the Barabina Hill Road, Duncan said he had visited the area in both 2024 and 2025 and repeatedly heard complaints about the road’s deteriorating condition.

He noted that after those concerns were raised publicly, the government announced around July—on the eve of elections—that work would begin “within two weeks.” However, he said the project has since stalled, with only limited activity by one contractor starting just days ago.

“This stop-start approach reflects a familiar problem: communities endure prolonged hardship while projects are announced, paused, and intermittently revived without clear timelines or sustained on-the-ground delivery,” Duncan said.

He added that although the G$80.6 million allocation was publicly indicated and the project advertised under the Ministry of Public Works in 2025, there is no clear disclosure identifying the awarded contractor, award date or final contract sum in the records of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board.

Duncan also raised concerns about the Silver Hill (Hobo Hill) Road Project, saying residents reported that sections of the newly constructed road had to be dug up due to improper construction.

According to Duncan, residents claim the road’s thickness does not meet specifications and that the surface remains rough and unsafe. He said requests for the bill of quantities were reportedly refused.

The Silver Hill project, Duncan noted, was awarded in 2024 under the hinterland roads programme, with a contract valued at approximately G$200 million to construct about 1.2 kilometres of rigid concrete pavement linking Hobo Hill to the Mabaruma airstrip corridor.

While funding and tendering are traceable, he said progress updates have largely come through budget speeches and ministerial visits rather than regular public disclosures.

“These two projects illustrate a broader issue: infrastructure announcements are being treated as outcomes, while transparency, quality assurance, and completion remain unresolved,” Duncan said.

He said residents of Mabaruma deserve roads built to standard, clear information on contracts and costs, and consistent delivery, adding that he will continue to press for “full disclosure, accountability, and remedial action” to ensure public funds result in durable infrastructure in Region One.