Dear Editor,
As a daily commuter, I feel compelled to speak out against the glaring incompetence of the PPP/C government, which continues to boast about development while failing to deliver quality infrastructure and sound management. One stark example is the so-called Heroes Highway, commissioned by the government on the 10th of December, 2023.
Despite the government’s claim of progress, the reality for commuters is a far cry from a modern, reliable road. Instead, we are subjected to a rough, bumpy ride filled with new potholes, cracks, and deterioration, hardly the sign of a well-constructed highway. This is particularly disappointing given that over $13.3 billion (approximately US$65 million) was spent on this project, awarded to several contractors, including GuyAmerica Construction Inc, V. Dalip Enterprise, (JV) Colin Talbot Contracting Services and Eron Lall Civil Engineering Works, S. Jagmohan Construction and General Supplies Inc., H. Nauth and Sons, JS Guyana Inc., (JV) VALs Construction and AJM Enterprise, China Railway First Group Company Ltd., Aronco Services Inc., (JV) Puran Brothers Disposal Inc. and Khemraj Nauth Contracting Services.
When we compare this with the historic Soesdyke-Linden Highway, constructed between 1966 and 1968 at a cost of just US$17 million, the contrast in quality is stark. That highway, built over 50 years ago, has served the people reliably for over four decades and remains functional today. It was declared open in December 1968 by then-Prime Minister Forbes Burnham of the PNC government. In contrast, with The Heroes Highway launched in only 2021, the PPP/C has demonstrated that it is incapable of managing even basic infrastructure projects effectively to deliver quality.
This pattern of mismanagement and incompetence to deliver quality is not limited to the Heroes Highway. It pervades the entire governance of the PPP/C, where promises are made but rarely fulfilled, and public resources are squandered for political gain. The people of Guyana deserve better. We must stand up, confront this government, and demand accountability.
Enough of the lies and empty promises. It is time for real change, for competent leadership that puts the nation’s interests above personal and political gain. Guyanese have had enough of this misrule. Let our voices be heard, our country’s future depends on it.
Yours truly,
Sherwin C. Benjamin
General Secretary PNCR
