Opposition Member of Parliament Saiku Andrews on behalf of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has raised concerns over ongoing road expansion projects along the East Coast and East Bank, citing widespread complaints from residents about delays, dust, and inadequate project management.
Reading from an APNU release, Andrews said residents in affected communities have been enduring significant disruptions, even as the party supports national development.
“Residents on the lower East Coast and East Bank Villages have complained about the delays and dust they are experiencing because of the road expansion projects. APNU is all for development. While development of roads is a fundamental responsibility of government, the process and experience citizens are experiencing are unbearable,” the statement said.
The opposition also criticized what it described as a lack of enforcement of health and safety measures by contractors, pointing to fatal consequences in at least one instance.
“Contractors are allowed to operate without concern for citizens and without health and safety regulations. No wonder we lost two precious young lives in Melanie due to such negligence. We call on the government to ensure all contract include health and safety protocols,” APNU stated.
According to the release, APNU’s local councillors and parliamentarians have been inundated with complaints, which the party says highlight poor planning in infrastructure development. The statement noted that commuters face daily traffic delays along the East Coast and East Bank corridors, while excessive dust from construction poses health risks to residents and road users.
The party further argued that some road works appear abandoned for extended periods, while others continue simultaneously, compounding traffic congestion and inconvenience.
APNU is now calling on the Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill to implement standardized operating procedures and stronger project management systems.
“APNU is asking the Minister of Public Infrastructure to intervene by setting up standard operation procedures and adequate project management protocols for infrastructure projects. We do not need another early morning buse-out by the President as an operating procedure… This is a clear manifestation of incompetence,” the release stated.
The opposition also highlighted inconsistent use of water dispensers to suppress dust, recommending that such measures be mandatory in all road construction contracts. Additionally, APNU raised concerns about the length of road segments under construction at any given time, arguing that extensive simultaneous works worsen traffic flow and prolong disruption for residents.
The statement cited specific issues in areas such as Bachelor’s Adventure, where ongoing works linked to the Ogle-to-Mahaica road project have reportedly affected private properties through erosion and flooding.
APNU further criticised the government for what it described as inadequate oversight of contractors and an absence of clear construction standards, even for basic features like speed bumps.
“As the fastest growing economy per capita, we cannot settle for rushed development… APNU is advocating that Guyana needs a structured, reliable, and efficient infrastructure policy and it must be judiciously implemented,” the statement said.
The party also called for long-term accountability measures, including warranties for road construction projects, referencing past infrastructure works that it said demonstrated greater durability.
“There should be road lifetime warranty written in to the contracts. The [People’s National Congress] PNC built the Soesdyke Linden Highway that had twenty years warranty which it outlived,” APNU noted.
The opposition concluded by pointing to prolonged incomplete works along sections of the East Coast, where some areas remain unfinished for years, with overgrown vegetation in certain zones. It contrasted this with the construction timeline of the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, which began in 1966 and was completed by 1968.
APNU is urging the government to adopt a more structured and accountable approach to infrastructure development, emphasising that quality and efficiency must take precedence over speed.
