Dear Editor
RECENTLY, we had another of Bharrat Jagdeo’s well-known gambits of seeking to ascend the moral high ground, pretending to defend the national interest, this time with a call for a “value-for-money audit” on the soon-to-be-completed extension of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) extension project.

Of course, as leader of the parliamentary opposition, it is his constitutional right to make such statements, or any such requests. Except that one can clearly discern the impute of impropriety in such a call; Jagdeo should be reminded that, “This time na lang time”, as this coalition government is insisting on proper standards that meet international best practices, thus signalling that its dollar must be properly spent.

But this particular opposition leader lacks any moral right on this particular subject, given the fact that this project had initially been announced to the Guyanese public, by way of the Jamaica Gleaner, rather than by the then PPP/C government. Where 70 per cent of the funds were expended with just over 30 percent of the work done.

This was just one of the many examples of the high disregard in which the Jagdeo political clique held the citizens of this country. One can also add the secrecy that shrouded aspects of the Marriott Hotel, which subsequently became an assumed debt on the shoulders of the current government.

It is evident that all such projects, inclusive of such a major as the CJIA expansion, has to be subjected to state audit. It is paramount, as it is also mandatory.

This is about Jagdeo seeking to create a mountain out of a molehill for political mileage, attempting to raise a hue and cry, when there is no reason to do so.

In effect, Jagdeo has again been taken by surprise by the government’s ability not only to make much-needed re-modifications to a seminal infrastructural development project, that has seen its finished sections becoming already operationalised, much to the satisfaction and praise of both outgoing and incoming passengers. One must ask, what is the particular point, Jagdeo?

Regards
Earl Hamilton