Ram joins PPP to prevent govt’s infrastructural development across the regions

DPI, Guyana, Saturday, March 9, 2019

Well known anti-government crusader, Christopher Ram has joined forces with the opposition People’s Progressive Party as efforts continue to stymie the APNU+AFC Government’s 2019 plans to develop infrastructure and improve the lives of citizens across the country.

In his most recent effort, Ram, who was previously nominated by the leader of the opposition for Chairmanship of the Guyana Elections Commission, has approached the courts with former Attorney General and PPP’s central executive member Anil Nandalall to seek an order blocking government’s contract of $15M dollars.

Through his lawyers, including Anil Nandlall, Ram also wants the High Court to declare that all such contracts awarded after the December 21, 2o18 vote were “unconstitutional, unlawful, null, void and is of no legal effect”. A move calculated to prevent the government from implementing several developmental projects resulting from the passage of its more than $300Billion 2019 Budget.

Ram who, in 2010, was insulted and ignored by General Secretary and then president of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, as he challenged Jagdeo’s role in the collapse of CLICO, now wants the High Court to rule that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency and Permanent Secretaries within all Government Ministries “be restrained from making any payment towards any procurement (contract) in excess of $15M approved by a purported Cabinet after the evening of December 21, 2018.”

Should the orders sought be granted, they will effectively prevent government bringing relief to hundreds of communities and thousands of residents across the country through the implementation of projects recently tendered and awarded for execution in 2019. Among these are the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s construction of urban roads in Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region 2): Lot #1 – Middle Street, Henrietta, Lot #2 – Nursery School Street, Lima; for the rehabilitation/construction of miscellaneous roads 2018, Mahaica-Berbice (Region 5) and East Berbice-Corentyne (Region 6) Lot #1 – rehabilitation of Access Road, Trafalgar, (Region 5), Lot #2 – rehabilitation of main access road, sea dam and side dam, Number 22 Village, (Region 5), Lot #3 – rehabilitation of Last Street, Liverpool, (Region 6); for the construction of a new exit road from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Terminal Building, Timehri, for the hospital roundabout to Campbell Town’s main access road into Mahdia, roundabout to the government quarters.

Planned infrastructural developments by the Ministry of Communities as it continues to roll out the delivery of government’s affordable housing and sustainable communities programme will also be affected. Among the projects identified are the construction of the Tabatinga bridge approach, Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo Region – Phase II, for the supply of road-building materials

The continued development of Lethem’s Industrial Estate also stands to be halted should the courts accede to Ram’s application. Through the 2019 budgetary allocations, the Ministry of Business is set to continue construction of the Lethem Industrial Estate Infrastructure Development works: roads, drainage structures, water distribution networks and retention ponds at Lethem, upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo (Region 9) – Phase II.

Hoping that the High Court finds that all government procurement (contracts) of more than $15M require Cabinet’s review and approval, Ram also wants the court to declare that there is no Cabinet to review or award such contracts in keeping with 54 (1) of the Procurement Act, Cap. 73:05.

A favourable declaration by the judiciary in this matter will also affect contracts awarded by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure for the construction of sea and river defence structures within Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region 2) to East Berbice-Corentyne (Region 6) – Lot #1, for a river and sea defence resilience project, Lot #5 – Grove/Lookout, East Bank Essequibo, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region 3), the rehabilitation of a hinterland airstrip, Lot B – rehabilitation of Kamana airstrip, Potaro-Siparuni (Region 8).

In addition, projects by the Ministry of Agriculture to be affected are  the construction of an access bridge at the abattoir compound, Mahaica, Mahaicony Abary – Agricultural Development Authority, West Coast Berbice, Mahaica-Berbice (Region 5), the construction of pump station at Devonshire Castle, Essequibo, Lot 3, Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region 2), the construction of pump station at Dem Amstel, Lot 4, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region 3), the construction of pump station at Nootenzuil, East Coast Demerara, Demerara-Mahaica (Region 4),the construction of a pump station at Hope, East Coast Demerara, Demerara-Mahaica (Region 5), the procurement for a new 3512B generator set for the drainage pump station at Montrose, East Coast Demerara, Demerara- Mahaica (Region 4), the construction of pump station at Mora Point, Mahaica- Berbice (Region 5).

Students and teachers across Guyana can also bid farewell to the much anticipated improved delivery of education and education-related services through the Ministry of Education, since the courts decision to grant Ram’s sought-after orders will see the non-implementation of electrical upgrade to the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus’ Social Sciences building,  electrical upgrade, Institute of Distance and Continuing Education, University of Guyana, Ministry of Public Telecommunications supply of fibre optic cables, National Data Management Authority,  procurement of bandwidth services to schools, Ministry of Public Telecommunication’s supply, installation and commissioning of solar photovoltaic system for ICT hubs.

Similarly, improved health care delivery, which the current government has pledged and continues to develop in regions across the country, will be severely affected with the inability of the Ministry of Public Health to implement contracts for the supply and delivery of ambulances among other items critical to patient care.

Christopher Ram, in 2015, campaigned with the then opposition APNU+AFC grouping to unseat what was then described as “the most corrupt, inept and evil government in the entire western hemisphere: the PPP,” by Oliver Hinkson who then added “Jagdeo has shown a penchant for wickedness and corruption that not even Machiavelli could match,”. However, a visible rift developed when it became clear that Ram was not chosen as a minister nor advisor to the newly formed APNU+AFC government.

In November 2012, writing on Chrisram.net about the PPP’s involvement in corruption and Anil Nandlall as Attorney General, Ram said, “I find it embarrassing that the Attorney General of this country does not by now know that the definition of corruption in the TI lexicon is “misuse of public office for private gain”. Perhaps he is more familiar with relevant examples such as Pradoville 1 and 2; the misuse of duty-free concessions; and paying out of the Treasury so-called advisors to the President and the Local Government Minister to work at Nandlall’s party in Freedom House. Mr Nandlall should and could have served his and the country’s interest by challenging the local Institute to start speaking out on private sector corruption, including tax evasion and money laundering. He must be personally aware that members of his and other professions as well as aggressive law firms not only engage in these practices for their own direct benefit but also in aiding and abetting others to do so.”

Since coming to office in May 2015 the APNU+AFC government has implemented several transformational projects redounding in improved livelihood for Guyanese. Among these can be found the successful completion of major infrastructural projects, as it continues to assiduously bridge the gap between the hinterland and coastland.