Dear Editor,
In a letter carried by the Stabroek News (October 7) Mr Charles Sohan pointed out that cost overruns incurred on government projects can also be attributed to poor project design instead of “poor management of the greedy and corrupt” as stated by Mr Lindon Stephney .
In my opinion poor design of government projects is one of the main reasons not only for cost overruns but also for the rapid deterioration of projects just after or even before completion, and the non-utilization of infrastructure after completion. This was a norm under the previous administration but the disturbing thing is that this is still happening under the new government.
A case in point is the potable water situation in Region 9. Vast amounts of monies were spent over the years by the Regional Administration for the installation of hand-dug wells and solar pumps for villages around the region, yet the situation remains the same today. As recently as last year contracts were given out for a number of hand-dug wells and solar pumps for villages but to date none is in operation.
Editor the problem lies with the hand-dug wells which are relatively shallow (about thirty feet on average) and only contain water during or just after the rainy season, and become quickly depleted once the dry season steps in. One would have expected this problem to be rectified once the new government came into office but contracts were recently advertised for more hand-dug wells to be installed in villages so residents can expect another set of white elephants and the continuation of water woes.
In addition to dysfunctioning water systems one can also encounter poorly designed solar power systems and electrical installations around the region.
Yours faithfully,
Patrick Fitzpatrick
