Selling propaganda through public relation blitzes is a failed method

Jan 05, 2018 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
Please allow me space in the letter columns to express concern as well as to educate your readers about the level of misinformation being peddled by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure as it relates to the “successes” of this Ministry.
The undisputed fact is that since the APNU+AFC Granger-led Administration assumed office, no new transformational or major infrastructural project has been undertaken. All that has been reported are projects started by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration pre-May 2015, and in some instances, funding mobilised awaiting contract awards for execution.
Let me, specifically, refer to a number of projects, such as: The Cheddi Jagan International Airport, the East Bank four-lane highway, the West Coast Demerara road (Vreed-En-Hoop to Ruby), the East Coast four-lane highway and upgrade (Betterhope to Belfield), the East Bank Berbice Road, the Sheriff St./Mandela Avenue upgrade, the road link between East Coast and East Bank, the Guyana Power and Light power utility upgrade project GPL’s PUUP (funded by the EU/IDB), new ferry to be funded by India, the Linden to Lethem Road and the Kurupukari Crossing.
These are all projects that were in the pipeline at different stages. Therefore, I urge all Guyanese not to be fooled by the propaganda lines and sound bites being peddled by the current Administration.
The New Demerara River Crossing was at the pre-feasibility stage when the PPP/C demitted office in May 2015. The country is now aware that the feasibility study was sole sourced, even after more than a dozen firms submitted bid proposals, responding to a public advertisement. How this is possible, only the Ministry of Public Infrastructure knows.
Maintenance of roads and bridges, highways, streetlights, ferry vessels, interior airstrips, wharfs and stellings and river and sea defences are all routine tasks of this Ministry, and in some instances, these declared programmes were not executed, as confirmed by the Minster when he declared a 73% completion of the capital projects for 2017. Yet, the Ministry is claiming a highly successful year.
Editor, a Government collects taxes and is expected to provide goods and services to its citizens. It is obvious that the APNU+AFC Government specialises in the collecting of taxes and is still learning how to deliver goods and services to the taxpayers. This unscrupulous approach of selling propaganda through public relation blitzes is a failed method that is seen and experienced by all Guyanese.
It is in this environment of boast by the Minister of Public Infrastructure that Guyanese are yet to be assured of the short-term, medium-term, or even a workable long-term solution, to ensuring cheap reliable and renewable electricity.
We all suffered the indignities of constant blackout during the entire year and even during the festive season, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Guyanese deserve more, so we demand more of this Administration.
Bishop Juan Edghill, PPP/C MP

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