Georgetown : Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali has questioned whether Alliance For Change (AFC) Executive member Moses Nagamootoo is so caught up in political negativism that he ignores facts, available information and truth in a spineless effort to denigrate the invaluable contributions public officials make in propelling Guyana’s development.
Speaking to Nagamootoo’s statements in relation to the construction of a new road linking the East Bank and East Coast Demerara through an Indian Government line of credit, Minister Ali said Nagamootoo seems divorced from the realities, from national priorities and ongoing developmental debates.
Minister Ali in a statement issued today, said, “In his anti-developmental antics, Mr. Nagamootoo said that the project was a “fly by night’ idea and that proper consultations and feasibility study are needed. Sometime ago I spoke of political maturity and leadership, it is this type of immaturity that will not take our country forward.”
The Housing Minister in his statement reminded Nagamootoo that this subject formed the discussion of many debate presentations in the 2014 National Budget, and in the debate that ensued after that presentation. Many members on both sides of the House spoke on this subject matter and all of them supported the idea.
“So, Mr. Nagamootoo’s sly comment of a “fly by night’ idea is baseless and was only aimed at discrediting the enormous contributions of President Ramotar in finalising this line of credit from the Government of India during his recent visit.” The President secured US$50M for the road project, as well as other forms of assistance, during his six-day state visit to India recently.
The Minister said, (as was outlined in debate presentations in the Parliament, and answering questions of the Opposition), in addition to the countless articles in the national media on this subject, it was made clear that a detailed feasibility study was completed and submitted to the Indian Government for approval.
“It is very naïve for Mr. Nagamootoo to believe that a project of this nature can just be approved without a detailed feasibility study.”
Minister Ali said he was bothered that the details of this project, through constant updates in the National Assembly and the media, seem to have avoided the notice of the AFC Member, and “In an effort to throw cold water on this tremendous accomplishment, Mr. Nagamootoo side-stepped the courtesies of acknowledging the hard work of employees in the public sector.”
Also the Minister took the time to congratulate the team from the Ministry of Housing and Water, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), independent stakeholders, community planners, and community leaders who assisted tremendously in the finalisation of the project document and feasibility study that led to the approved financing for this project.
Knowing the vital importance it has for not only linking the East Bank and East Coast Demerara, but also the opening up of many opportunities, new land, and linking the Ogle International Airport with major population zones, Minister Ali said President Ramotar has constantly pressed the technical team to work assiduously in securing the approval of this project.
“There is an exciting future ahead for Guyana, but it requires maturity, vision and commitment to be realised. It is these characteristics that saw this major accomplishment between the Government of India and the Government of Guyana.”
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