“Personally, I have no recollection of the National Assembly approving sums for the Homestretch Avenue road project. What is further troubling; when questions are put to the Ministers in the National Assembly, the responses you get are so unbelievable and disrespectful.” So said Annette Ferguson, shadow minister of housing and water.
The parliamentarian said like others she would like to know what is happening, and while it appears the road is under expansion, the failure of the government to inform the public of the project, the timeframe for completion and address the discomfort people are likely to face, are unacceptable.
Speaking in detail about the project, the parliamentarian said a frequent user of the corridor would have observed the following since 2023:
- Machines and equipment mobilised on the northern carriage way of Homestretch.
- Stocked piling of loom and sand on the northern carriage way.
- Workers mobilised and commenced excavation works on the Southern boundary of Homestretch (Vlissengen Road heading towards National Communication Network).
- The initial 6-8 feet drain on the southern bound of Homestretch was downsized to approximately 2 feet.
Addressing the reduction of the drains which could pose further problems with irrigation in the city, Ferguson noted the initial size of the drain was designed that way for a purpose. “I recall just before the downsizing of the drain, that area was prone to flooding whenever it rains. The question remains, with the downsizing do we expect something different?”
The parliamentarian warned the flooding situation in the city will get worse, and commuters will continue to suffer, since the authority cares less about the people’s welfare and more about finding jobs for their friends, families and favourites.
Blasting the government for this disregard the shadow minister pointed out that to date, the National Assembly and by extension Guyanese, with the exception of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill and others, are unaware of the following:
- The scope of the project.
- Total project cost.
- To whom the project has been awarded.
- How was the project awarded, that is, the method of procurement used?
- What’s the project duration?
- Which Government Ministry is overseeing the project?
- Has the contractor done works of this nature prior to him/her being awarded this contract?
- Does the contractor have the capacity to do such a project?
- What is the width and length when completed?
- What is the thickness in depth on completion?
- Was a design done for such a project?
- If yes, why hasn’t the design been erected, so TAXPAYERS will be aware of what the final project will look like?
- In the absence of an erected design billboard, where can this be found?
- Were consultations held with stakeholders? If yes, when, where and with whom?
Ferguson noted that apart from the public being kept in the dark, the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government operates as though the money of the people of Guyana is theirs and they are not accountable for its use.
“When the Speaker of the National Assembly is called on to have the appropriate responses provided, he does absolutely nothing! The Twelfth Parliament of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, I can only describe it as a ‘rubber stamp,’ where the Opposition is placed at a disadvantage.”
The parliamentarian advised that motions and questions tabled by Members of the Opposition, in most cases, are disallowed or voted down. Notwithstanding this, Ferguson is putting Minister Edghill on notice that questions will come, and the appropriate responses must be provided. “There must be accountability and transparency for the Guyanese monies,” she asserted.
Touching on corruption, particularly infrastructure, the parliamentarian said the PPP/C’s only interest is in sand, steel, stones and cement. “This is where the corruption, kickbacks and stealing of our monies occur. The PPP/C has no intention of ensuring that Guyanese enjoy the oil proceeds, which will allow us to have a better education, better health services, better social services and better housing, just to name a few.”
Making known Guyanese, deserve better. Ferguson pointed out that amid Guyana’s oil wealth, lavish and corrupt spending, people are complaining of the high cost of living but the government is doing nothing to alleviate the suffering.
The parliamentarian is calling on Guyanese to be more responsive to their dire conditions and get ready to make their mark for change. In apparent reference to the constitutionally due national elections in 2025, she reminded “Guyanese, the time will come for you to make the mark for change!”
