Dear Editor,
The Office of the President recently shared photos of the progress being made on the Mabura Hill highway. The substructure looked problematic. The amount of gravel and stone looked minimal and there was evidence of rain being in the area and lots of moisture on the substructure of aggregate while the asphalt was being laid. This brings into question the timing of the project and its true cost. The road is at risk of prematurely developing potholes and sinkholes. This we saw happen to the recent roadwork on Thomas Lands. The Ministry of Public Works should have the inspectors on site to ensure that the project is being completed to the agreed to specifications. Having the Minister and President visit the site before each key project milestone is counterproductive. The inspectors have to be empowered to ensure that the job gets done properly. The project managers from the construction company and the Ministry also need to be held accountable for the structural integrity of the road, the timeline for its completion and the cost of the project.
CRG also suggests having the Audit Office of Guyana carry out an audit of the major infrastructural projects underway in the country. This will ensure that an objective review is completed to determine whether the funds allocated for these major infrastructural projects are being used efficiently and effectively. The timing of the project does raise concerns and may result in having to spend additional funds in the near future to carry out repairs that were avoidable.
The civil engineering department, the inspectors and the project management team need to ensure that the scheduling of the projects are optimal for the conditions necessary to carry out the planned projects. We must be cautious not to rush due to political promises and end up with projects that are poorly executed. However, it is nice to see that funds have been allocated to make the improvements necessary to a road that has been neglected for a very long time. We must always keep in mind that old Guyanese saying, “waste not want not” when we decide to spend our country’s money.
Sincerely,
Jamil Changlee
Chairman
The Cooperative Republicans of
Guyana
