Latest update June 1st, 2026 12:37 AM
Opposition Leader demands full transparency on Wales gas project
– as concerns mount over delays, cost overruns
Kaieteur News – As concerns grow over the delayed, over budget Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project at Wales, West Bank Demerara, Leader of the Opposition, and We Invest In Nationhood (WIN), Azruddin Mohamed is demanding full transparency from the Government of Guyana (GoG).
Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed
In an interview with this newspaper, Mohamed pointed out that GTE is fast becoming one of the most glaring examples of the financial mismanagement and failed oversight of the PPP government in recent history.
The businessman said, “What was sold to the Guyanese people as a transformative, cost-saving initiative has instead turned into a project defined by delays, escalating costs, and a dangerous lack of transparency.”
Mohamed pointed out that the project has since failed to meet every major deadline, set since December 2024, with no clear and credible assurance that its new 2026 year-end timeline will be met.
Further, the opposition leader noted that the price tag on the infrastructure development continues to climb by hundreds of millions of US-dollars, with the public still unaware of when the promise of cheaper electricity will be realised, and at what cost to future generations.
He pointed out, “Over US$526 million has been borrowed from the U.S. Export-Import Bank to finance this project. This is a loan that must be repaid, with interest, by current and future generations. Every dollar that is wasted, mismanaged, or improperly spent on this project is a dollar that the people of Guyana will still have to repay, with interest.”
To this end, Mohamed argued, “We demand a full update on project timelines, a transparent accounting of expenditures, and clear confirmation of the project’s financial standing with its lenders.”
The leader told Kaieteur News that he was particularly troubled by the growing reports of questionable expenditure by the contractor and the complete absence of transparency from the government.
Moreover, he criticised government for failing to address in detail, the serious allegations of excessive spending, including high-cost operational expenses by the contractor. This newspaper reported that the contractor, Lindsayca was using project funds to fly weekly to the United States via private luxury jets, costing US$70,000 per week.
On the other hand, Mohamed explained that while officials of the United States Export-Import (US EXIM) Bank offered glowing public remarks during their visit, the Guyanese people should not confuse diplomatic language with the reality of what is likely taking place behind closed doors.
“Anyone who understands projects of this scale and the obligations tied to international financing would recognise that those private discussions could not have been comfortable for the government. When a project of over US$500 million in external financing is facing repeated delays, cost overruns, contractor disputes, and growing public scrutiny, lenders do not simply ignore those risks. They assess them rigorously, because their financing is tied to performance, accountability, and repayment.”
Mohamed added that the PPP government has continuously demonstrated its inability to properly manage flagship projects, as all have been mired by runaway costs, repeated delays, and unanswered questions. “This is not just about one project. This is about competence, accountability, and trust. The Opposition will not accept a situation where hundreds of millions of dollars are committed in the name of development, while transparency is ignored and accountability is absent. We will continue to demand answers, because this is not the Government’s money—it is the people’s money,” the Leader stated.
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