AG says
WHILE challenging the obstacles that stand in the way of national development and unity, Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, S.C. publicly condemned the race-baiting tactics being rolled out by Opposition operatives.

In a post made on his Facebook page, the Minister said: “The publication and promotion of racism and the exciting of racial hostility constitute criminal offences under the laws of Guyana,” underscoring that freedom of expression does not encompass hate speech or ill-will.

He then went on to address the meat of the matter and called out Nigel Hughes for using his platform to disaggregate the progress made throughout the length and breadth of Guyana.
“To randomly disaggregate among communities, roads being done in one administrative Region of Guyana, as a complete picture of all the roads being done in that Region, to portray a fabricated case of racial discrimination is precisely what the framers of the Constitution intended to be excepted from freedom of expression,” the AG said.
Moreover, the Minister then gave light to the numerous works being done by his People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government since they assumed office.
He then used an article from this publication that entailed the massive road works executed by the Ministry of Public Works.

The village of Melanie has found itself in place of betterment after the Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and a group of government officials paid a visit to the area.
Still speaking on the article, the AG said: “Now, imagine if I were to publish this link as a total picture of all the roads being done on the East Coast of Demerara, or worse yet, Region No. 4, leaving out all the other communities in which roads are being done in the Region!”

The Minister then inferred that works are in a myriad works progress even though they might not be broadcasted all the time.
“The truth is, since we took Government in 2020 to date, over 242 contracts totaling $13,986,238,495 were awarded for the construction of new, and the rehabilitation of old roads, bridges and sea defence structures, from one end of Region Five to the other, inclusive of almost every village. Space will not allow for the breakdown of contracts per village,” he related.
Asserting that no community will be left behind, he announced that before the end of this year, 30 more contracts totaling over $1.132 Billion will be awarded for the construction of even more roads within the region.

BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE
In just over a month after the Vice President visited to the community of Melanie, East Coast Demerara, the Ministry of Public Works, and by extension, the government, restored 13 dilapidated roads in the village.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, explained that Vice President Jagdeo, the Attorney General Anil Nandlall, and himself visited several communities over the past few months and met with the residents.

Minister Indar stated that Dr. Jagdeo’s primary objective in visiting communities is to listen to the people’s concerns, requests, and offer assistance, if required, on personal matters.
Minister Indar also explained that in order to create employment for the people in the communities, the government is making sure that contractors and labourers from the respective communities or neighbouring communities are given the first preference to get the contracts for building the roads.
The Guyana Chronicle reached out to the residents of Melanie, who expressed their gratitude to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and the People’s Progressive Party Civic government for delivering on their promise.

While speaking with the residents, a businessman of the community, Mr. Floyd Arthur, said: “Given the fact that the Vice President himself came with the other ministers and made the promise of rebuilding all the roads in Melanie and then followed through with that promise, it is very impactful. I have been living in this community for over twenty years, and all that you would hear politicians say is that they will do the roads, and nothing wasn’t done.”