The Cost of Concealment — A Nation Misled

Oct 20, 2025 Letters

Dear Editor,

A Pattern of Deception and Neglect

The recent revelation at the International Business Conference in Georgetown has confirmed what many citizens long suspected — that the Gas-to-Energy project, touted as Guyana’s flagship energy initiative, has been mired in gross mismanagement from the very start. A representative from Lindsayca disclosed that the site where the project is being constructed suffered from severe soil deficiencies, requiring over USD 100 million in remedial works. This staggering cost was never part of the original project estimate and stems directly from the reckless decisions made by the current administration.

Under the supervision and direction of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo — who holds responsibility for the oil and gas portfolio — all warnings were ignored. No feasibility studies, no geotechnical assessments, no environmental reviews, no due diligence. The decision was made unilaterally, supposedly in the “interest of expeditious development,” but now taxpayers face a ballooning cost that has skyrocketed from an initial USD 500–600 million to well over USD 2 billion.

Deliberate Concealment and Public Deception

This was no accidental misstep; it was a deliberate act of concealment. The administration chose to mislead the nation, circulating false narratives that delays were due to arbitration with the contractor, when in fact they were scrambling to address the soil crisis quietly. The truth only emerged when the contractor’s representative was forced to disclose it publicly.

Even more alarming is that by the time these issues were discovered, crucial elements of the project—such as the gas pipeline and 75% of the distribution network infrastructure—were already nearing completion. This eliminated any possibility of relocating the site, effectively trapping Guyana into an escalating cycle of wasteful expenditure and dependence.

Loans had already been secured from the US EXIM Bank, yet the administration opted to keep these foundational failures hidden until after the elections — prioritising political convenience over national transparency.

A History of Costly Mismanagement

This scandal is not an isolated event but part of a troubling legacy of mismanagement, deceit, and disregard for public accountability. From the failed Skeldon Sugar Factory project to the current Gas-to-Energy fiasco, the same pattern persists: inflated promises, inadequate planning, no oversight, and the public left to bear the financial fallout.

Each time, those responsible evade accountability, while ordinary citizens carry the burden — in taxes, in higher costs of living, and in the erosion of trust in public institutions.

Call for Accountability and Transparency

Guyana deserves better. We cannot continue to endure governance defined by secrecy and incompetence. It is imperative that the government:

Publicly release all feasibility and geotechnical reports related to the Gas-to-Energy site.
Disclose the full cost breakdown, including any cost overruns and loan obligations.
Publish the details of any arbitration proceedings and contractor correspondence.
Establish an independent commission of inquiry to investigate decision-making processes surrounding the project.
Commit to legislation enforcing transparency and public review before any future mega-projects commence.

True development rests not in political posturing or hidden deals, but in integrity, accountability, and respect for the citizens’ right to know.

Conclusion

The Gas-to-Energy debacle is more than a technical failure — it is a moral one. Very much like the Skeldon Sugar Fiasco. The administration’s concealment of critical information and failure to conduct due diligence will remain burden -some to the nation for generations to come. This is not leadership. This is deception cloaked in development-speak, and it must end.

Guyana’s people deserve honesty, vision, and governance that values their welfare over political expediency. It is time to demand that our patrimony not be squandered away by those entrusted with the mandate to secure “our future”:

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