Comprehensive reviews will determine if major infrastructure projects, such as the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion, will continue, according to Minister of State in the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon.Addressing the media at his post-Cabinet briefing at the Ministry, Thursday, the minister explained that these projects will be reviewed in their entirety to determine if their continuation is in the best interest of Guyana.
“What we are doing is to have a full brief on everything that has to do with these projects,” Minister Harmon explained. He pointed out that as the Opposition, “we complained that we did not have all of the information, that the then Government was not giving us the information in a very systematic way. They were actually giving you a little bit here and a little bit there; now that we are in Government, we have the ability to find all of it (information), and we will make the determination after we have a full review,” he said.
Minister Harmon pointed out that the review will not only be involving the Government, but other entities and stakeholders in the country, whose views on these projects were ignored by the previous Administration.
“Huge sums of money have been spent, they are not our money, they are the people’s money, belonging to all of Guyana, and so in crafting the way forward for these projects, we are going to engage other stakeholders,” the Minister said.
Minister Harmon and Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson will begin the review of the CJIA project immediately. Minister Harmon explained that they will be meeting with the management team and the contractors to chart the way forward on the project.(GINA)