THE government has embarked on a massive Capital Works programme. Only recently, contracts totalling over $5.6 billion were signed by the Ministry of Public Works which would see infrastructural works being done in several parts of the country including hinterland communities. Never before in the country’s history has there been such massive public sector spending which, combined with that of private sector investments and foreign-funded projects have catapulted Guyana as a major investment hub in the entire region.

In addition to the Capital Works programme of the Central Ministry, there are hundreds of millions of dollars in works executed by the regional administration which, taken together, amounted to huge sums of money drawn from the Consolidated Fund to finance the country’s development. There are also several foreign-funded projects which run in several billion dollars.

One immediate consequence of such massive capital works is that it generates employment opportunities to a countless number of persons, especially in the construction sector. Already there is a shortage of certain categories of  construction workers and, with substantial investments in the oil and non-oil sectors, the construction industry is now challenged to satisfy the labour requirements of an expanding sector.

The benefits to the country of a massive infrastructural programme go beyond the creation of job opportunities. Many young people work as ‘apprentices’ in the various skill areas, literally learning on the job until they ‘graduate’ to become skilled workers in fields such as carpentry, plumbing, masonry and electrical installation, among others.

These are people who may not have benefitted from formal training at specialised training institutions but they have managed to perfect their trade in ways comparable to those who would have graduated from established technical institutions. The government through the Board of Industrial Training has been targeting hundreds of out-of-school youths and other vulnerable individuals in a wide-variety of skill areas, many of whom have been absorbed in the labour market or have become self-employed.

But it is the transformative impact of the government’s capital investment projects that matters most to the citizens of Guyana. The joy and comfort of travelling on a newly-paved road; or of getting water or electricity for the first time; or simply enjoying the comforts of a clean and green park are things that speak to a better quality of life which transcends the money value of the projects.

This approach to development of putting more emphasis on infrastructural development as opposed to consumption is designed to lay a solid foundation for sustained economic growth and development. With oil and gas now becoming a dominant sector in the economic life of the country, the need for a strong and robust infrastructural programme becomes all the more critical to attract foreign investment and enhance the overall competitiveness of the country.

This is why it is so important that all contracts are awarded in a transparent and competitive basis. Minister of Public Works Bishop, Juan Edgehill had cause recently to debunk allegations by some opposition elements that government contracts are being awarded to a particular section of the society. He noted that awarding of government contracts is done in an open and transparent manner and that there are built-in mechanisms to allow for a fair and accountable process in keeping with the National Procurement Act. The government, he said, has a mandate to ensure that all Guyanese benefit from the transformation currently underway. According to the minister, both government and contractors have to work as partners in development to ensure that all works are being done to the required standard, especially in terms of quality, time and the financial envelope.

The government must be commended for being able to mobilise such massive sums of money to upgrade and modernise the country’s infrastructure, and also to ensure that the award of contracts are done in a fair and even-handed manner.

Value for money is an important element of good and accountable governance and the PPP/C administration has not been found wanting in this regard.

The Government of Guyana has been working closely with the Office of the Auditor-General to ensure that there is value for money audit on both recurrent and capital and recurrent expenditures.