–calls on them to desist from peddling ‘wicked and malicious misrepresentation’

PEOPLE’S Progressive Party (PPP) General-Secretary, Clement Rohee, on Monday, flayed the Opposition for continuing to misinform the Guyanese people and engaging in the “raw politics of opposition”, despite having access to accurate information.

He said, “The PPP Government is not about “band-aid” solutions which the PNC (People’s National Congress) led APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) is historically famous for.

“Our administration makes strategic interventions aimed at producing solid solutions for sustained successes. What we find as dishonest is the raw politics of the Opposition who in spite of having the correct information still tries to mislead our people.”

Rohee was speaking at a press conference yesterday at Freedom House, Robb Street, where he addressed claims made by the APNU about the state of affairs at the $77.7m Sand Creek Secondary School – a situation which has also been bemoaned by the Chairman for Region 9 (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo), Wilson Laurentino.

The PPP General-Secretary said, “I have recently received the report from Region 9 on similar allegations (three weeks ago) made against the PPP/C administration of that region.
“…the Opposition (APNU) continues to put negative spins on the good efforts of the government and those who are making contributions to improvement.”

NO FOOD SHORTAGE
He debunked claims of a food shortage in the dorms at the secondary school in Sand Creek, the claims of students being accommodated on “unfit” beds and the allegations of infrastructural damage being left unattended.

Rohee said, “A total of 219 students attend the Sand Creek Secondary School, 45 students are from Region 8. The regional administration is not aware that there is a need for additional dietary supplies. The supplier is from Sand Creek and had there been a shortage of food there would have been a big outcry, contrary to PNC propaganda this was not the call. The region has all the bills and receipts for the supply of dietary items and they can be made available for guidance and confirmation.

“…Food for the Poor, a long established, well-meaning NGO and a great contributor to our people in need had donated beds to the school. The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs facilitated the beds being transported to Sand Creek. The beds were found to be in need of some repairs and a contractor has been contacted to do remedial work on them. The administration has not and would not put our children to sleep on beds which are not fit for children.
“Concerning the crack in the beam at the Sand Creek Secondary School, the regional administration is aware of the problem and has since contracted a contractor to do the remedial work. The principal has agreed that two columns will be mounted so as to secure the beam.”

Regarding the latter, he acknowledged that there are other visible signs of structural defects.
However, the PPP General-Secretary pointed out that an urgent request was sent to the Ministry of Education’s Permanent Secretary for an engineer from the central ministry to check on this.

He said, “One must note that the contractor was a former top PNC member and long-serving MP. The Auditor General’s Report has words that question the supervising consultant for the project signing off on the shoddy work by the contractor.”

Rohee also addressed the need for repairs on the Sand Creek Bridge, and stated that the regional engineer continues to visit and monitor this project and materials are on site to facilitate ongoing work.

He said, “The contractor was recently in Georgetown to purchase additional materials and is working to ensure that this project is completed in a timely manner.”

According to him, the APNU has made a “blunder” about the temporary electricity setback in Lethem during the second week of February.
The General-Secretary said, “They were well aware that government is assisting the Lethem Power Company (LPC) to upgrade the electricity system.

“At that time there were two mechanics in the region servicing the generators now in place while two new generators were purchased for Lethem.
“The supply of electricity has never broken down in Lethem though the system was ailing for some time; however, government since last year has been working with the LPC to modernize the entire network.

“A new distribution system is now in place and a new generation site is being constructed. Some two weeks ago the two new generators were installed and the people of Lethem have been receiving 24-hours’ supply of electricity.”

Rohee called for the Opposition to desist from their “wicked and malicious misrepresentation” and made it clear that the Government is committed to exposing, where needs be, the inaccuracies perpetuated by the Opposition.

(By Vanessa Narine)