Responding to a recent Stabroek News editorial that criticized and blamed the government for delays on several ongoing projects, General Secretary of the incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) said it was not the government’s blame to take.
While ‘undesirous’, Jagdeo said some delays are understandable even as he pointed to delays on the Cemetery Road and Conversation Tree road upgrades in Georgetown.
“It is true these projects are delayed but for what reasons?” Jagdeo quizzed.
He said that sometimes there are real and acceptable reasons for delays, pointing to a shortage of materials and difficulty working in some environments where traffic flow cannot be entirely stopped.
He said the critics appear not to see anything good in the projects or even take time to consider the impact of the master plan.
“They are buying into the line of the opposition who stands on the sidelines and gripe and complain.
“But if they were in power, we would not have had these projects.
“They would have done a study or think about it but it would not have been done,” Jagdeo told a press conference on Thursday at the party’s Robb Street, Georgetown headquarters – Freedom House.
He explained that even with delays, the projects are moving ahead.
“We don’t like delays and we don’t set out to have a project delayed…it is part of what you have to deal with in daily life, in a country of our nature, especially one that is growing as fast as Guyana is.
“You can’t talk about delays for a few projects without talking about the master plan and the overall impact,” Jagdeo added.
The government also faced criticism for the delays on the Schoonord to Crane four-lane highway on the West Coast of Demerara which had an expected completion date of June 2024.
Jagdeo again defended this particular delay.
“Yes, it may be delayed by a few months, but it is happening and it is being done by local contractors,” he added.
Jagdeo said the hard work that goes into even getting these projects off the group is sometimes lost in the entire process towards completion.
