– Edghill calls out APNU+AFC for neglecting T&HD

MINISTER of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, harshly criticised the governing A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition administration for failing to pay the workers’ taxes and union dues of the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) employees as well as for failing to repair ships while in office.

During his presentation on Day Three of the 2023 Budget Debate, Minster Edghill said that, for 2015–2020, the T&DH was struggling, but the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has been able to fix the damage done.

Out of the $781.9 billion budgeted in 2023, Guyana’s largest ever, $4.7B, was allocated to the T&HD.

“When we came to government the Transport and Harbours Department was one of the departments that was struggling. For the period 2015 to 2020, no NIS contributions were made for the staff of the Transport and Harbours Department,” the Minister said.

However, he pointed out that the arrears of $470 million is now paid off, and the staff can now uplift their benefits.

He further disclosed that Pay As You Earn (PAYE) was not paid over to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), nor were the deducted union dues paid to the T&HD union.

“I am happy to announce that we’ve been paying the backlog. We are current and up to date. The people of the Transport and Harbours Department could now get their records in order. That is what we have been doing,” he said.

He said that his ministry has managed to dry dock every single vessel of T&HD and rehabilitate them, which was not done under the last regime.

Minster Edghill told the House that they instituted an additional daily trip to the Parika-Supenaam route, which had long been called for by citizens from both sides of the river.

He said this unearthed a “miracle” at T&HD since, based on its calculation, 80,000 gallons less fuel was utilised.

“How could you be operating a boat, with more trips and less fuel? The hustle of the fuel hustlers has come to an end,” the Minister said.

“Mr. Speaker while I’m hearing the heckling, it’s the same engineers, it’s the same people that were there for 56 months, are there for 28 months, but are delivering.

“You know why? Because they have visionary leadership. They are delivering because they understand where Guyana needs to go. They understand that it is a government that is looking after people and not looking after themselves. That’s the difference,” the Minister said.

He further highlighted that the PPP/C also instituted a ‘ferry pass’, which ended the alleged corruption that occurred before.

People can now book online and get to their destination knowing that their travel arrangements are secure.

“Mr. Speaker, we are happy to announce and let the House know that the MV Lisha has already departed Kolkata. It’s on a submersible barge en route to Port of Spain, from where she will sail into port Georgetown in the first quarter of 2023,” he said.

Regarding the Maritime Administration Department, Minister Edghill said that it’s the regulatory body tasked with bringing about improvements and even making interventions as they pertain to Guyana’s new oil and gas sector, which primarily exists more than 270 kilometres offshore.

He maintained that the government would continue to establish safety and navigational aids in Guyana’s rivers.

“…Recently, we signed a contract for the removal of 17 wrecks in our various rivers so as to ensure safety while people are traversing these rivers,” he said as he disclosed to the House that the government has expended another $293M for the docking and rehabilitation of the administration’s vessels

“I’m sure even members of the opposition will be pleased about this initiative. We have purchased and distributed life jackets to people in the riverine communities, all of the operators of boats and their sailors because we want safety on our waterways,” he said.