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Opposition pushes for special audits on road projects
– Public Works Minister welcomes approach
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has called for special audits to be conducted on three road projects, including two interior access routes.
PPP Member of Parliament, Juan Edghill identified the projects as the East Bank Berbice road in Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne), along with works on the Mabaruma road and Port Kaituma road – both in Region One (Barima-Waini).
“While meeting the public at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, I have received numerous complaints and expressions of grave concern by citizens, as it relates to unsatisfactory, sloppy and poor works done on our roads,” Edghill stated.
A section of the Port Kaituma road.
He noted that concerns expressed were not only limited to the quality of the work, but had to do with improper procurement practices that allowed for contract costs to be inflated.
According to Edghill, the indiscriminate and excessive use of the “forge account” facilitates the submission of huge bills without adequate supervision and verification.
According to Edghill, the view expressed is that the actual works done does not represent the actual expenditure being reported by the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC).
“We will expect to have the findings of the Audit Office to be made public very soon. The matter at hand has to do with transparency and accountability – a promise that was made by this very APNU+AFC Coalition Government,” Edghill stated.
In a published response to Edghill, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson said the Ministry welcomes an audit on the three projects and as a matter of transparency, on any other project under his watch.
According to Patterson, Edghill is highlighting projects that the PPP administration when in power refused to even consider and turned a blind eye to the residents.
The Berbice road project cost is $1.2B.
“For several years, the residents of East Bank Berbice suffered due to the terrible condition of that road, so much so, protest actions were a common feature,” Patterson said.
As for the road projects at Mabaruma and Port Kaituma, Patterson shared that these were awarded via public tender while works commenced in 2017.
He stated that that the rehabilitation of the Mabaruma Main Township Junction to Airstrip Road was contracted to MRK Construction at $82M while Port Kaituma to Matthew’s Ridge Phase 32 was contracted to International Import and Supplies at $403M.
Patterson revealed that both projects are 100% completed; hence, it would have been under the review of the Auditor General.
‘There is no need for poetical grandstanding with a call for audits,” Patterson stated.
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