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Recent road work not PPP campaign tactic – Public Works Minister
Even as the government of Guyana commenced a US$47M road project less than two months before General and Regional elections, Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn emphasised that this project is not part of the PPP’s campaign.
Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn
During the launching of the Fourth Road Project (West Coast Demerara Road Improvement) on Thursday Minister Benn said the project was another initiative of the Donald Ramotar Presidency. He noted too that Guyana was in an election period.
“I guess we have to state and acknowledge that there is an election campaign on,” Benn said. He continued, “I guess too that sometimes these campaigns allow for politicians to put their hooves in their mouth.” However, though the project is coming at the election period, this was merely coincidental, Benn said.
“I have to state from the get-go that this initiative – this development – started in the Ramotar administration in 2013…in effect this project is happening in coincidence with an election campaign [but] this project has basically nothing to do with elections,” the Minister emphasised.
The high-budget roadway, which stretches some 30.7 kilometres from Vreed-en-Hoop to Hydronie, is expected to be completed in about 36 months. The contracted companies are BK International and Jamaican company, Surrey Paving and Aggregate (SPA) Limited.
Earlier this year, a $94M contract was awarded to GuyAmerica Construction Inc for the rehabilitation and construction of several community roads on the East Coast of Demerara under the Community Roads Improvement Programme (CRIP).
The contract for the project includes upgrading of the Enterprise Sideline; First Cross Street (east) and Sideline (east) in Good Hope; and Pasture Dam in Enmore. CRIP is currently constructing roads in Beterverwagting and Enmore. These projects are expected to benefit some 700 residents.
In the past, the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has been accused of using state funds for electioneering purposes. Recently, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) said that best democratic practice encompasses the principle that the incumbent government not be able to influence elections by inaugurating new projects which directly benefit particular communities, such as roads, health centres or other such activities.
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