‘Deliver or get out’ – President Ali warns contractors, Govt. staff in tough Berbice address

Nov 21, 2025 News

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By Shermon Hawker

(Kaieteur News) – Contractors, department heads, and all government service providers were sternly warned on Thursday by President Irfaan Ali that citizens, especially Berbicians must receive every government service they are entitled to, without negligence, delay, or complacency.

Speaking at a cabinet outreach at State House in New Amsterdam, Region Six, President Ali made it clear that accountability is no longer optional. Over the next two days, members of his Cabinet will be deployed across East Berbice-Corentyne to directly engage residents and resolve issues on the ground. The President reminded citizens that his government has a national mandate to meet every need of every Guyanese. “Our job is to reach you, hear you, and serve you with dignity and pride,” he affirmed.

President Ali announced a new operational model, where central government will physically rotate through each administrative region. “Every month, the government will be in a different region, holding cabinet meetings, outreach activities, and integrated service sessions,” he said, explaining that the aim is to absorb real-time feedback and deliver immediate solutions.

“I have said to this new cabinet, that the government must operate from every administrative region…all of government. So, we’ve decided that every single month, for at least two days, the government will be in a different administrative region with the cabinet meeting, cabinet outreaches, and an integrated government platform to listen to people and to resolve challenges and issues on the ground.”

The President also warned that persons will be held accountable for ineffective services delivered to citizens. Systems will be in place to measure the efficiency of those who are being paid by the government to render any particular government service. He promised that failure to perform at a satisfactory level will warrant their removal. “We paid for services from the government, and those services must be delivered efficiently.”

Government, he said, wants performance indicators that are not reflected merely on paper. The President took a swing at the sluggishness of some contractors who are responsible for the construction of bridges and roads. “You have seen the slothfulness of the contractors, and the engineer who is supervising this project. I’m astonished that liquidated damages are not yet applied. And from my information so far, these contractors seem disinterested in the completion of these bridges.” He noted that he has instructed the permanent secretary and the procurement head to take all the necessary actions that would ensure the contractors are not awarded any projects until the existing ones are completed.

Meanwhile, the President announced that a One Guyana service delivery center will be launched in New Amsterdam and Corentyne, which will centralise all matters pertaining to immigration, passport, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA,) birth certificates, National Insurance Scheme (NIS), and a Help Connect desk that serves as a link to the Office of the President.

Also speaking at the event was Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, Zulfikar Ally. The minister challenged Berbicians to maximise on all available resources that the government offers, inclusive of scholarship and training opportunities that are “free of cost because of our president.” Minister Ally lamented the fact that while many of these options are available, many Guyanese are not taking full advantage, or are altogether unaware. He urged Berbicians to pursue areas that will enable them to move with the tide of development that Berbice is set to undergo. “The President has spoken endless times about the development that is coming to Berbice. You need be a part of that. You’re not going to be a part of that if you don’t upskill yourself…either through GOAL, either through COURSERA, either through the University of Guyana which is now free…if you don’t take advantage of these opportunities, you are going to be left behind,” the minister admonished.

Minister Ally also noted the President’s vision of a digital economy, in which all public service with be digitised for the convenience of citizens. Applying for compliance at the NIS, among other relevant matters, could be done simply by engaging the NIS app, he cited as an example. Scores of Berbicians took the opportunity to mount their concerns to the president on community and personal issues. Officials from the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), and other agencies were on the ground to entertain matters corresponding with their agencies.

Some of the most pressing issues highlighted to the President were discolored water and delayed works on several road projects. President Ali gave on-site instructions to officials for the immediate rectifying of several of the issues. Member of Parliament Zamal Hussain, Regional Chairman Junior Bassant, Regional Executive Officer Narindra Persaud and other senior officials were also present at the event.

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• contractors, delay, Irfaan Ali, Projects, Region Six, warns

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