Frustration is growing among residents of rural communities developed during the era of President Forbes Burnham, as they feel neglected by the current People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government in the repair of roads. Despite promises of equal development, the government has focused its resources on newer schemes, often overlooking roads built under People’s National Congress (PNC) Burnham’s leadership.
In areas like the Demerara and Essequibo regions, roads in older schemes were initially constructed with quality asphalt but have since deteriorated. Many residents feel that the government has shown little interest in maintaining or repairing these roads. In contrast, roads in newer schemes are regularly re-paved or upgraded, leaving older schemes in a state of disrepair. The few repairs made in older areas have been described as “band-aid fixes” rather than long-term solutions.
This discrimination is evident in physical infrastructure, with roads in some Burnham-era schemes visibly divided by newly paved roads on one side and crumbling asphalt on the other. A clear example of this disparity can be seen in the Suddie Housing Scheme on the Essequibo Coast. The original housing scheme, built during the Burnham era, remains neglected, while the newer development adjacent to it, constructed during the PPP era, has had its roads repaved in the past two years.
Residents of the older Suddie Scheme have repeatedly asked why their roads have not been fixed, but their concerns have been ignored, with officials stating that the government is not prioritizing their area because “it is Burnham scheme.”
Suddie Housing Scheme was built during the 1970s through self-help and catered primarily to public sector workers.
The disparity in treatment symbolises the broader political bias at play, with communities in schemes built under the Burnham era feeling deliberately overlooked because of their historical ties to the opposition.
This ongoing division reflects how political favouritism can shape development priorities, leaving many Guyanese questioning the fairness of government policies.