Latest update March 13th, 2026 12:35 AM
APNU criticises Govt. for not holding contractors accountable in major road projects
(Kaieteur News) – The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has strongly criticised the government for failing to hold contractors accountable for the poor quality of infrastructural projects in Guyana.
Despite President Irfaan Ali’s recent speech outlining plans for 2026, the APNU pointed out that key issues related to flawed projects were not addressed. Member of Parliament, Terrence Campbell, raised concerns over the government’s failure to address persistent issues in roadwork and other major infrastructure projects. According to Campbell, the government has not been holding contractors accountable for “shabby” work, despite highlighting numerous ongoing infrastructure projects. He stated, “While the President highlighted roads, bridges, and mega-projects, he failed to acknowledge persistent quality failures, premature deterioration, and the absence of accountability for contractors and cost overruns.”
A section of Heroes Highway
Campbell further criticised the lack of transparency, claiming that the public has not seen evidence of any contractors being penalised for substandard work. “We have not seen evidence in the public domain going after contractors for shabby work and one can take in its own logical conclusion, one could arrive at the point that so many of these contracts are given to friends, family, and favourites. When shabby work is being done, it then becomes difficult for the government to go after these individuals, so the Guyanese taxpayers pay, over and over again, for shabby work by contractors,” he added.
MP Nema Flu Bess also pointed out the deteriorating quality of roads, which are vital for transportation in various communities. She cited the Hero’s Highway as a prime example of poor construction. “The Hero’s Highway is a perfect example; ever so often you always end up in a hill or valley. I can give you an example of the piece in Craig, the recently opened area in Craig, there is a particular section on that road, if you don’t know how you are driving there, you could end up on a different path because of the waves that are there,” Bess explained. She also highlighted the deterioration of roads in areas like Grove, where residents are dissatisfied with the construction quality, making it difficult for drivers to navigate.
In his speech last Wednesday, President Ali outlined several major infrastructural projects, including further advancements in the construction of Silica City and rehabilitation works of the Heroes Highway. Kaieteur News on Saturday reported that three years after government commissioned the US$65 million Heroes Highway project, the Ali-led administration has only now moved to find contractors for an asphaltic overlay on the road. This delay has added to the mounting cost of the road, making it one of the country’s most expensive infrastructure projects.
Campbell, during the APNU press conference, criticised the government’s handling of the project. He said, “Talk about putting the cart before the horse, everything this government does is rushed, it’s a brainwave. The President wakes up one morning and this is what they’re going to do without thinking the project through properly, without feasibility studies, and this is why now, almost four or five years after they started the whole Heroes Highway, we’re now talking about an asphaltic overlay.”
Earlier this year, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill had warned contractors that they would not be paid for poorly constructed roads. Addressing contractors at a substandard section of road in Wisroc, Linden, Edghill stated, “Poorly done work will not be paid for. While contractors have been given timelines and deadlines, we (government) will not accept poor-quality work.” He also added that contractors who deliver low-quality work would not be given further opportunities to bid for future projects. The Minister emphasised that all concrete roads must meet a specific standard of 4500 pounds per square inch (PSIA) and undergo testing by government labs before payments are made. Edghill also made it clear that engineers who approve substandard work would face consequences, reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring value for money and quality service for the people of Guyana. However, so far, no actions have been reported in this regard.
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