Dear Editor,
The Request for Proposals for Amaila Falls Hydro has once again motivated persons to write and express negatives about the project; this leads me to ask if our opinionated class (media, professionals of various types, and armchair experts) have any interest in real development for Guyana? We cannot continue to pour uninformed negative opinions into the public domain without understanding the impact on the investment climate, to be pellucid, I have no issue with well researched and presented arguments against any development project but the noise of negative Nancys has cost us dearly in the past and seem poised to attempt same again.
Winston Brassington wrote a document entitled ‘Challenges to building the Georgetown Marriott’ and it should be required reading in high school; the document details among other things a preponderance of negative newspaper editorials, opinions, letters to the Editor aimed at stopping or stymieing that project. The Marriott was conceived and executed pre-oil and today stands as a monument to the vision and ability of a PPP/C administration to conceive, finance, and execute projects to successful completion. This brings us back to the barriers to progress for Guyana is faced with challenges beyond negative opinions and these require some tough decisions from the Irfaan Ali administration.
Among them is the unavailability of sand to meet construction schedules; this is due to increased demand and the inability/refusal of those with licenses to operate sandpits to increase production hours. Guyana needs a mental shift in all sectors to realize real development; the new paradigm requires 24/7 work shifts and operators who understand how they fit into the development matrix. Government has to inform and assist sand pit operators to get to 24/7 capacity or find alternative operators to operate sandpits as a boost to supply. The local wharves are operating at capacity (import and export) and logically the Government will make a request for proposals for a deep water harbor to facilitate new wharves (possibly in the Berbice river) and this will trigger a new wave of negatives to add to the technical challenges posed by such a large-scale project. Is it too much to ask that the (inevitable) criticism be based on fact and research? Failing that, Guyana is going to become a pariah state for investors whom we are asking to fund, build, own, operate, and then transfer to state various massive bits of essential infrastructure. If we cannot attract this type of investor, Guyana will have to borrow and/or fund its infrastructure projects, which is not the most desirable model for development. If the Amaila Hydro can be built without taxpayers’ dollars being spent, then I say more power to us as a people (literally) and naysayers need to put energies towards positive suggestions on how we can achieve this and other major projects at the lowest possible cost and greatest returns for all Guyanese.
Sincerely,
Robin Singh
