It seems as if some sections of our society are buried in the sea of negativism and as such no matter how positive or beneficial a project is to the future of this country they will always try to paint a negative or pessimistic image and will look for “skeletons in the cupboard” and when they cannot find any they will seek to invent them. This is simply because they have an agenda to undermine.
When the Guyana National Stadium was being constructed to facilitate Guyana becoming a World Cricket Cup venue, one person, and luckily so only one, wrote in his column it was a waste of time and money and instead the money should have been spent elsewhere. After the stadium was completed, the same individual wrote that it was the ugliest of the stadiums in the Caribbean. The Berbice River Bridge brought similar speculations and reactions and the same writer who denounced the stadium offered after the completion of the bridge that it lacked aesthetics; even though all the works in the vicinity of the bridge has have been completed. The primary objective was to ease the hassle of travelling across the Berbice River and then look at the secondary issues.
So their intention is clear – anything positive must be downplayed or maligned because it will make the government look good.
Now that the Amaila Falls hydroelectricity project fructification is imminent the cynics have once again gone into overdrive to distort, misinform and malign it by looking for the “skeletons in the cupboard.”
One would have thought that such a project, which promises immense benefits and could transform this nation and will help to remove many problems which plague us because of the current inefficient and costly electricity supply system, would have won accolades from all quarters and would have seen Guyanese united around. But instead there are still some who are bent on undermining anything progressive. The successful completion of a hydroelectricity project would be an historic event and should bring euphoria when it fructifies. But some seem to think differently.
Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, noting that the government regards the Amalia Falls hydro power project as a truly transformative project, has said the administration will not be distracted from realizing it. He was speaking yesterday at a press conference at the Ministry of Finance on Main Street, Georgetown , where he noted, in particular, recent public pronouncements in some sections of the media on the Amalia Falls project, including the access road.
“I want to say that I find it to be most regrettable, extremely disappointing; and those are words that put mildly the way that I perceive the kind of pronouncements that I have been observing,” he stressed.
He said it is extremely disappointing to witness what is very blatant speculation and the use of very distasteful innuendos that can only be designed with the intent of derailing the project.
Against this backdrop, he cited the example and made reference to an article carried in another section of the media, noting the use of this kind of speculative language that casts aspersions and doubts on the project.
“These comments are highly reminiscent of the kind of comments that have been coming from some sections in relation to every single major investment in recent years in Guyana,” he insisted and recalled that there is a very consistent pattern, with the Berbice Bridge and the National Stadium, as examples.
“There is what I would describe as some perpetual naysayers – nothing is positive. Every time one of these projects comes up, you hear nothing positive. All you see is a range of negatives trying to cast aspersions on the project, trying to cast aspersions on the process, trying to cast aspersions on the people involved in the project; and I believe this is most regrettable,” he went on.
However, he cited the case of the Berbice River Bridge, which saw criticisms as well and which today is there for all to see.
“And I don’t believe that there is anybody in Guyana who questions the value and utility of the Berbice River Bridge,” and the transformative effect and impact this project has had.
He said they persevered and “today, we have a project that has, literally, transformed the landscape of our country.”
Similarly, he noted, “I don’t believe that there is anybody in Guyana who can question the merit of the Amalia Falls hydro power project,” and referred to the benefits it can have on electricity and reliability, and the implications for affordability of electricity, among others.
Minister Singh alluded to the issue of the award of the contract to construct the road, and stressed that this was awarded by a public transparent process.
“Just as we were convinced that the Berbice River Bridge was a good project for our country, was a good opportunity for the private sector to invest in infrastructure, it was a historic project; because for the first time the private sector was investing in infrastructure. In much the same manner, we regard the Amalia Falls hydro power project as a truly transformative project,” he said.
“This government will not be distracted or diverted or swerved from the realization of this project,” he maintained, and will continue to work in earnest, and in collaboration with its partners which include large reputable international financial institutions, private sector partners, and contractors, so that the project will be realized in the national interest and the interest of the people of Guyana.
Dr. Singh is dead on target. We cannot allow these mischief makers to detract us from the socio-economic developmental process because therein lies the future of children and nation.