Planning is not the PPP/C’s strong point

Aug 07, 2024 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Kaieteur News – The growth of vehicular traffic, coupled with a densely populated coastal strip, has long made the need for a mass transport system an economic imperative. However, successive governments, particularly the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPPC), have demonstrated a palpable lack of foresight and planning in this regard.

Burnham opted to close the loss-making railway system in favour of the costlier building of roads. But at least he acknowledged that this was one of the mistakes of his government. Don’t expect to hear any confession from the PPP/C about the failure to develop an improved mass transport system. The absence of a robust public transportation infrastructure to include things such as a light rail or even a motorized tram system, capable of moving large numbers of persons, represents a significant shortcoming in public planning. This will continue to have long-lasting ill consequences for the nation.

One of the most glaring examples of this oversight occurred during the Jagdeo administration, which initiated the development of massive housing schemes at Diamond and Tuschen. These areas were envisioned as potential secondary towns, capable of alleviating the housing crisis.

However, the government failed to integrate a mass transport system into these plans. The establishment of only a single access road to the Diamond Housing Scheme resulted in severe traffic congestion during peak hours, highlighting the incompetence in planning and execution. The situation underscores a broader issue: the lack of a comprehensive planning vision that includes efficient transportation solutions.

The construction of the now-named Heroes Highway is another missed opportunity. The highway could have been a backbone for a modern mass transport system. However, the planning was again at fault as it lacked provisions for a dedicated lane for a tram or light rail. Instead, the land alongside the highway has been allocated to businesses, effectively foreclosing any future prospects for developing a mass transport system along this corridor. This shortsightedness is indicative of a pattern where immediate economic gains are prioritized over long-term infrastructural investments that would benefit the broader populace.

A mass transport system, such as a light rail, would have offered numerous advantages. It could have significantly reduced the number of private vehicles on the road, alleviating traffic congestion and reducing the environmental impact of vehicular emissions. Additionally, it would have provided a reliable and efficient means of transportation for daily commuters, thereby saving time, money, and man-hours. The absence of such a system forces citizens to rely on personal vehicles or an underdeveloped public transport network of minibuses, both of which contribute to the daily logjams on the roads.

The government’s failure to capitalize on these opportunities has financial implications as well. The continued emphasis on road construction and expansion to accommodate increasing vehicular traffic is extremely costly and is not sustainable. Roads require constant maintenance and expansion, and they can only accommodate a finite number of vehicles before becoming congested again. This cycle of expansion and congestion is not only costly but also inefficient in the long run.

The PPP/C however is into road building and fails to recognize that this is part of the problem. The funds allocated to road development could have been better invested in a mass transport system, which would provide a more permanent solution to the nation’s transportation woes.

Despite the obvious benefits of having a mass transport system, even a loss-making one, the PPP/C governments have consistently failed to prioritise its development. This failure is not merely a result of poor planning but also a reflection of a broader lack of vision. The government’s continued focus on road construction over other options suggests a reluctance to embrace modern, forward-thinking infrastructure projects. This approach is detrimental to the nation’s long-term development and will ultimately result in higher costs, both economically and environmentally. In recent statements, the Vice President gave the impression that the development of a rail system is not off the cards. But he certainly did not convey the impression that it was an immediate priority.

Guyanese should not get excited by what Jagdeo says relating to a mass transport system in the future. Such assertions ring hollow given the consistent pattern of missed opportunities. There is no land along the main road routes to build a light rail. The window of opportunity for developing such a system is rapidly closing, if it has not already closed entirely.

The failure to establish a mass transport system in Guyana is a cautionary tale of how a lack of planning and vision can have far-reaching consequences. The PPP/C governments’ inability to foresee and act upon the need for such infrastructure will leave a legacy of congested roads and lost man hours. The nation will pay a high price for Jagdeo’s and the PPP/C’s lack of foresight. The continued reliance on road-based transportation systems will necessitate further road construction and expansion, perpetuating a costly and unsustainable cycle. But don’t tell that to Jagdeo. He has a plaster for every sore.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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• administration, building, Peeping Tom, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPPC), Tuschen

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