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Georgetown, Guyana — During a pre-dawn meeting convened at 5:00 a.m., President Irfaan Ali expressed his frustration with project delays and management practices within the Ministry of Education, directly calling out Minister Priya Manickchand and the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Shannielle Hoosein-Outar. The meeting, which included contractors, engineers, and key ministry representatives, aimed to address delays in construction projects affecting educational facilities and other sectors.
Ali did not hold back in his criticism, describing the Ministry of Education’s approach as “laissez-faire” and highlighting failures in communication and oversight. “How you said you can’t get in contact with him?” he questioned Hoosein-Outar, pointing out that one of her engineers had already confirmed communication with the contractor in question. Ali argued that such lack of internal coordination has created an environment prone to inefficiency and stagnation.
Emphasizing the need for greater accountability, Ali stated, “This ministry made contact with nobody,” referring to the absence of contractors tied to the Ministry of Education’s projects. He suggested that this lack of oversight significantly contributed to delays, stressing that he had convened the meeting “in the national interest to deal with all of these contractors who have delays.”
The President’s comments signaled deeper concerns about project management within the Ministry, stating that the approach would need significant reform to meet project timelines. “It’s a laissez-faire approach to this work,” he asserted, underscoring that a culture of inefficiency must change to meet completion goals.
As the People’s Progressive Party approaches the 2025 General and Regional elections, President Ali also underscored the absence of adequate communication among officials as a central issue. He cautioned that without significant improvements, the government might take serious steps, including terminating non-performing contractors and implementing disciplinary actions within the ministry.
In the 2024 Budget, the Ministry of Education has an extensive construction agenda, backed by capital investments. Major projects include work on secondary schools in Aishalton, Christianburg, Jawalla, Kopinang, and Micobie, along with proposed new primary school constructions set for Augsbury, Kuribrong, Lake Mainstay, Pennack, and Red Hill. Ali emphasized that achieving timely project completion was essential to the nation’s development goals, especially within the education sector.
