Dear Editor,
Government Must Answer for Wasted Taxpayer Dollars, Terminated Contracts, and Abandoned Projects in Potaro Siparuni.
The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), a key component of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), today issued a scathing indictment of the PPP/C government’s gross mismanagement and dereliction of duty in Region 8 (Potaro Siparuni), as exposed in the official Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Meeting Minutes of March 17, 2026.
The PNCR/APNU calls for immediate accountability and demands that heads roll for the litany of failures that have left the people of Region 8 abandoned, underserved, and betrayed by a government that has proven itself incapable of basic governance.
PAYMENTS MADE, GOODS NOT DELIVERED
The RDC minutes reveal a disturbing pattern of taxpayer dollars being paid out with nothing to show for it. All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) were paid for in 2025 an entire year ago yet the Region is still “awaiting delivery” from the supplier, Marix. This is not governance; this is daylight robbery. The Minister of Local Government herself demanded to know why there are no health workers in Muruwa, yet the administration has failed to fix this critical shortage. The people of Region 8 deserve functioning services, not empty promises and missing equipment.
CONTRACTS TERMINATED, WORKS ABANDONED
The RDC minutes paint a damning picture of contract after contract being terminated with no replacement contractors appointed:
- The Kato Dormitory project was terminated. The Clerk of the Council could only offer vague assurances that it “will be completed this year” with no contractor named, no timeline provided, and no confidence inspired.
- The Monkey Creek bridge in Kaibarupai saw its contract terminated with the original contractor. The Clerk’s response? “It’s going to be awarded to another contractor.” When? The people of Kaibarupai are still waiting.
- The Muruwa school extension, Wailang school, and Post Health projects remain in limbo, with the Regional Engineer offering only that they will be “handed over” upon completion with no actual completion date provided.
This is a government that terminates contracts but refuses to re-enter them. This is a government that has abandoned the infrastructure needs of Region 8 while smiling for cameras in Georgetown.
ZERO CAPITAL EXPENDITURE DESPITE MASSIVE BUDGETS
Perhaps the most damning revelation from the RDC minutes is that not a single program has expended one dollar from the capital budget, despite a total capital allocation of 1,086,170,000. The capital budget breakdown shows:
- Public Works: 305,000,000 – 0 spent
- Education Delivery: 494,017,000 – 0 spent
- Health Services: 265,000,000 – 0 spent
- Agriculture: 15,000,000 – 0 spent
- Regional Administration: 7,000,000 – 0 spent
The recurrent expenditure stands at a mere 14.4% of the total budget. While the people of Region 8 suffer from lack of roads, bridges, schools, health posts, and basic services, the government sits on nearly a billion dollars in capital funds. This is not incompetence this is deliberate neglect.
HEALTH CRISIS IGNORED
The Minister of Local Government herself acknowledged the lack of health workers in Muruwa and demanded that it be fixed “with immediate effect.” Yet the RDC minutes show no action. The Kurubrong Health Post contractor has merely “given assurance” to complete by the end of April and we are now in July with no update. The Junction Health Post is in “several phases” with no clarity on completion. The Sand Hill Health Centre requires “additional items” that have not been delivered. The malaria department building still needs electrical installation and doors.
The Hon. Minister also raised the critical issue of drug shortages and demanded that the “tracking system should be enforced.” Why was it not enforced before? Why must the Minister remind her own government to do its job?
EDUCATION IN DECLINE
The Education Committee Report reveals a Region with 410 teachers, yet 211 are still in training and 38 are completely untrained. The government has gazetted schools that are not functioning. Princeville Nursery School was gazetted in December but remains non-operational. Taruka Nursery School lacks electricity, furniture, transportation, and Wi-Fi. Monkey Mountain Nursery School lacks fencing, putting children at risk. Tuseneng Nursery School exists only as an “extension” of a primary school, not as a standalone facility.
The government talks about education standards while teachers are expected to “be responsible for the upkeep of classrooms” a clear abdication of the state’s duty to provide adequate learning environments.
INFRASTRUCTURE LEFT TO ROT
The Public Works program lists bridge projects at Itabac, Sand Hill, Monkey Mountain, and Kato yet not one has been completed. Road rehabilitation from Paramakatoi to Karisparu, Kanapang to Penack, Arasawa to Maikwak, and Katchcow to Orinduik remains on paper only. The people of Region 8 cannot eat promises. They need bridges they can cross and roads they can travel.
The PNCR/APNU demands the following:
- Immediate forensic audit of all payments made for undelivered goods, including the ATVs paid for in 2025 and any other procurements where taxpayer money was exchanged for empty air.
- Public explanation from the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development as to why capital budgets remain unspent while the Region crumbles.
- Termination and replacement of the Regional Executive Officer, Deputy Regional Executive Officer, and all Program Heads who have failed to execute their mandates.
- Urgent re-tendering and awarding of all terminated contracts within 30 days, with penalties applied to defaulting contractors.
- Parliamentary investigation into the systemic failure of project delivery in Region 8, with findings made public.
The people of Region 8 are Guyanese too. They deserve the same standard of governance, infrastructure, health care, and education as every other Region. The PPP/C government has treated Potaro-Siparuni as an afterthought, a forgotten hinterland to be exploited for votes and abandoned thereafter.
Enough is enough. Heads must roll. The PNCR/APNU will not rest until accountability is achieved and the people of Region 8 receive the governance they deserve.
Your truly,
Dr. Sherwin C. Benjamin
General Secretary
People’s National Congress Reform
