With the Government beginning to spend money from its $781.9 billion budget with a heavy focus on infrastructure, the APNU+AFC Opposition believes that there must be strict oversight to minimize waste and address issues of fraud.

At the Opposition Leader’s weekly press conference this morning, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton said the public procurement system must do its job, related to contracts and contractors for the major government projects that will be rolled out.

“For 2023, the government has allocated G$388B for capital expenditure. Most of this money will be spent on infrastructure projects, such as roads and public buildings. Guyanese should be aware that almost all of the G$388B will be filtered through the public procurement system – in other words, through contracts to be awarded by government ministries, state agencies, and regional democratic councils. Against this background, there is a need for the government to put in place measures (a) to minimize corruption and financial mismanagement, and (b) to ensure equitable allocation of contracts across groups in the society”, Mr. Norton said.

He stated that the Coalition delivered quality infrastructure at a much lower cost than the present PPP regime and the fact that the current government is paying almost double for a poorer standard of work in many instances, points to corruption and fraud.

He said “the revelation by Member of Parliament David Patterson, during his budget presentation indicated that PPP road contracts are costing taxpayers $40M per km more than under the Coalition government. This highlights the crisis of corruption and financial mismanagement in the public procurement system at present. This should not be left unchecked since the crisis will worsen. The Guyanese people will get fewer and fewer returns relative to the money invested in capital projects. In public spending, citizens must always demand cost minimization, efficiency (or output maximization), and effectiveness (or full attainment of the intended results). This does not occur under the PPP.”

The Opposition Leader chastised the Government for failing to inform the nation of any intention to stem the hemorrhaging of public funds through fraud and financial mismanagement.

According to Mr. Norton, from all indications, the Government seems more comfortable being a “facilitator and co-conspirator in the abuse of the people’s money as the government pursues its policy of enriching its elites, families, friends and favourites”.

He said the citizens of Guyana must join the opposition in keeping a close watch on the major government projects taking place in their communities.

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