Earlier today Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Nigel Hughes, told residents in South Ruimveldt to explore the possibility of seeking compensation for loss of money and business resulting from the collapse of lamp posts in the areas two days ago that plunged the communities into darkness, affecting thousands.
Having visited the area and interacted with the affected-and posted on social media- Hughes, who is lawyer encouraged “the businesses in South which lost money and business as a result of the collapsed poles …to record and document [their] losses so that this can be assessed with a view to seeking compensation for [their] losses.”
Homeowners lives were also disrupted. Persons have suffered loss of perishable goods, damage to electrical appliances, and were/are without internet and water that rely on electricity.
Two evenings ago and into yesterday morning, concrete poles planted recently by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) fell on the North Ruimveldt road, creating a domino effect in North and South Ruimveldt areas and nearby communities.
Yesterday, GPL Head of Executive Management, Kesh Nandlall, said the collapse of the poles was the result of the drainage and road expansion works being done the area that have undermined the electricity company’s network infrastructure.
Today workers from GPL were seen in the area working to upright the poles and restore electricity. People are however very displeased with the situation. The incident has not only wreaked havoc in their lives but exposed the infrastructural incompetence being allowed by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government.
(Photo credit- Nigel Hughes Facebook)
President Irfaan Ali’s recent attempt at hauling contractors, ministers and permanent secretaries before him at 5:30 a.m. in a public display of embarrassing them failed to impress Guyanese, who have long been calling for strict adherence to the tendering process, accountability, and the awarding of contracts based on competence. The Government is yet to fulfill these basic requirements.
The AFC, in a statement, addressing the 5:30 a.m meeting said the President’s public humiliation of public servants was an attempt to avoid accountability and divert attention away from deeper, unresolved problems in his administration. The party flayed the administration for manipulating the procurement processes for the benefit of a select few, often with connections to the PPP/C.
Over 80 per cent of Guyana’s $1.146 Trillion 2024 Budget goes toward public infrastructure. The Government has returned to the National Assembly to allocate more money to the sector through Supplemental Fundings totaling $84.5 Billion in November and more than $40 Billion in July.
Contracts are being awarded to persons with little or no experience or competency and proper resources to do the work. Adam Harris, veteran journalist and columnist in Village Voice News, has highlighted the sorun. In his column today, “Promoting the Peter Principle,” Harris draws attention to the fact the government is not adhering to the tender process of bidding but going into communities and announcing the award of contracts with the aim to win people over.
General and Regional Elections are constitutionally due next year. Evidence permeates of the PPP/C Government using taxpayers’ money to buy votes and influence the elections outcomes.