Wales – Heads must roll

Apr 30, 2026 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

Hard Truths by GHK Lall

(Kaieteur News) – Former Wales Gas-to-Energy (GTE) Taskforce Head, Mr. Winston Brassington should resign. Project Consultant, his new crown, does nothing to defend or distance him from the US$2 billion Bharrat Jagdeo contraption that now crumbles before the eyes. Resigning would be the honorable step to take. He should make that preemptive move, and go on his own power before he is fired. Somebody has to take the fall for that Jagdeo concoction, and Winston Brassington is head and shoulders the best candidate.

Facts to be faced, reality acknowledged. General Secretary and Vice President Jagdeo is not going to be fired. By whom? Nor will Prime Minister Phillips be made to run on his sword, in the manner of genuine warriors of old. In Guyana, politicians don’t take the fall. Why should they, when there is a Dr. Gopinath “Bobby” Gossai? Willing, able, and zealous, and also with being a fair sub for that US$214 million IHS Markit audit findings sleight-of-hand. Pres Ali has performed very poorly with accountability, but can redeem himself, given that US$2 billion is in the fryer. The president can only waffle for so long. Vice President Jagdeo has the luxury and cover story of jetting off, and has a well-earned reputation as Dr. Teflon. Nothing sticks to him; neither Velcro nor Crazy glue. By subtraction, by default, there’s only Winston Brassington left in the line of fire. As citizen and brother, I do my duty, take a chance and send him this warning. Take a hike. Get out while the going is good, move on while the temperature is still manageable.

The Wales GTE is not Skeldon. It isn’t the Berbice Bridge nor Sonata. It is all of US$2 billion, or 400 billion Guyana dollars; maybe GY$600 billion, or GY$500 billion, with discounts. The PPP Govt. of Ali et al may wish to pretend that all is kosher and under control. Like hell it is. In the unlikely event that the project is completed and were to deliver, as touted, half price electricity wouldn’t last, will come back to cost expectant Guyanese twice or three times of what was promised, however spaced. Like the Cheddi Jagan Airport there will always be costly add-ons to keep the US millions rolling. Mark my words, and my name isn’t Mark Anthony. Clever PPP men will find ways to wrap gullible Guyanese heads in wool, then trick or treat them.

Mr. Brassington may consider himself untouchable, secured by the ledger of secrets he has about PPP internal works and skeletons. I admire his enduring faith. Others felt the same way, until they were brutally and ruthlessly moved out of the way. The money awarded to Lindsayca is too secret, too sketchy, and too much par for the course, to be overlooked as usual business. The US$250 million more it is asking for, will not help it to deliver on time, or anything related to quality. Looks like ole times and old history having another replay. Delays, cost overruns, secrets, and a big bill for long-suffering Guyanese taxpayers. However kindly this is looked at, it must qualify as another major disappointment for most Guyanese, including yours truly. Only a fool, or an extraordinarily spiteful citizen, wouldn’t want half price electricity and a reliable supply of it, as a bonus.

In a less docile, more demanding, society, both political and agency heads would have rolled long before matters reached this sorry stage. Because costly developments like the US$2 billion (and climbing) Wales GTE are now seen as the norm, the most that squeaks out of Guyanese is a yawn and shrug of the shoulder. Because the Wales GTE now carries such an astronomical price tag, even a calloused and scaly outfit like the PPP Govt. will be hard-pressed to live it down. To leave it alone, and start over with a new billion-dollar dead duck. Last, who isn’t relieved will be reassigned. There’s precedent: a PPP minister and PS.

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

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

GHK Lall, resign, Wales Gas-to-Energy, Winston Brassington

Latest News