THE Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) yesterday issued a statement dismissing a recent Guyana Times newspaper report that “special treatment” had been awarded to the Prime Minister in the form of his access road being upgraded upon his assumption of office.

Carried in the June 14 edition of the Guyana Times, the report detailed that criticisms had been mounted in response to the alleged “special treatment” being practised by the current Government, which, prior to assuming office, had accused the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration of practising favouritism.

The Guyana Times report said criticisms had been levelled because “the streets where the Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, resided in Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, (were) being repaired and upgraded so as to ensure that he travelled in comfort, while one section of the railway embankment at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, not far from where he lives, was in an atrocious state of disrepair and (was) causing great discomfort to commuters.”

The OPM statement at reference denounced the contents of the article, describing it as “mischievous.” Providing some details on the circumstances surrounding the situation, the statement revealed that upon his assumption to office as Guyana’s Prime Minister and First Vice-President, Mr. Nagamootoo “opted to live in his own house in North Sophia.” It added that the PM’s official residence is uninhabitable in its present state, and the PM and his family have resided in their personal Sophia home since 1985, and continued to do so even after he became, for many continuous years, under four past Presidents, a Senior Government Minister.

As it relates to the street just outside the PM’s house, which was previously known as “Sand Road”, the statement described the condition as “almost impassable” prior to its rehabilitation.

“Facing these conditions on a daily basis, Mr. Nagamootoo had made repeated representation to former Works Minister, Mr. Robeson Benn, and had submitted a residents’ petition to him for repairs to the bridge and the street.”

It was, however, reported that last year the bridge was renovated, and workmen had commenced repairs on the street. The OPM statement further alleged that “upon learning that Mr. Nagamootoo lived there, the workmen dug up the street and left hurriedly; they never came back.

“A complaint was then made to the then Minister, and an invitation was extended to have him visit the street. Both were acknowledged, and upon his visit, Mr. Benn had “personally assured” that completion of the works would be done as soon as the rains held up.”

Additionally, the statement disclosed that “on several occasions, Mr. Nagamootoo had sent photographs to Minister Benn, showing that the condition of the street had further deteriorated.
He also protested against the spite and vindictiveness of the former regime in damaging the street just outside his home.

“The street was left in its deplorable condition even after Mr. Nagamootoo became Prime Minister and had started to use his home as the Official Residence of the Prime Minister of Guyana,” the OPM statement said.

The OPM statement additionally rebutted a Guyana Times assertion that “(the Prime Minister) never once requested that the repairs be completed after he became Prime Minister.”

The OMP response condemned the Guyana Times report as “mean, dirty and unwarranted,” and labelled it “a blatant attempt at tarnishing the image of the Prime Minister”.

It was also revealed that many prominent citizens use this street, including the Director of Public Prosecutions, a personal aide of the former Attorney General, a high ranking Guyana Defence Force officer, and the vice-president of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association.

(Ravin Singh)