PPP to boycott Parliamentary airport tour

The Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Wednesday afternoon signaled its intention to boycott a parliamentary tour of the expansion works at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri.

The Clerk of the National Assembly invited opposition Parliamentarians for the tour on April 27, 2018.

But Shadow Public Infrastructure Minister Juan Edghill said in a statement that the PPP will not participate in “any charades” that will lend semblance to “legitimacy and to camouflage any appearance of transparency to this unaccountable Administration”.

Edghill further contended that it was the same players in Government who attempted to sabotage the CJIA Expansion Project while they were sitting on the Opposition benches.

The Opposition Parliamentarian also expressed concerns about the alterations made to the project design.

“We are aware that significant alterations and changes have been made to the design. It is our intention, and we will at the appropriate time, call for a performance audit of this project, to ensure that the Guyanese people got value for their money and what was paid for was delivered,” Edghill stated.

The former junior Finance Minister said he suspects the “real reason” for the tour is to prove to the nation that progress is happening under the coalition administration.

“It has been three years since this Administration has been foisted on the Guyanese people and they have not a single project, of a developmental nature, to show. Is this now an act of desperation for some media coverage, to show that things are happening?” Edghill said.

He further suspected that the Government will be moving to the National Assembly for supplementary funding for the project.