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Georgetown, Guyana (Credible Sources) – City Councillor and representative of Constituency 14, Kibwe Copeland, has called for urgent transparency and accountability in the management of the $1.45 billion Aubrey Barker Road Expansion Project, following widespread disruptions and safety hazards caused by the initiative.
Speaking on behalf of affected residents in South and North Ruimveldt, Copeland described the project as riddled with “corruption and mismanagement,” citing damaged infrastructure, safety risks, and a lack of public consultation as key concerns.
“The improper installation of electrical poles, which collapsed and caused prolonged blackouts, exposed residents to significant safety risks, economic losses, and discomfort,” Copeland said. He added that the incident reflects “substandard workmanship, lack of adherence to safety standards, and insufficient oversight.”
Copeland urged the responsible authorities to release critical project details, including timelines, budgets, and impact assessments, and called on the Ministry of Public Works and contractors to address residents’ concerns immediately. “Residents deserve to know how this project will impact traffic, property, and businesses and whether resources are being used efficiently,” he stated.
The City Councillor’s comments come a day after Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo also weighed in on the incident, characterizing the collapse of the utility poles as unacceptable and vowing to hold those responsible accountable. “Public Works and GPL have to give credible explanations because I’m going to be on their case until we get to the bottom of this,” Jagdeo declared.
He noted that either a design flaw or contractor negligence was to blame and demanded answers from the supervising engineers. “People have to be blacklisted and fired for this sort of thing, or it’s not going to change,” he said, emphasizing the need for stricter oversight and consequences for mismanagement.
The incident and the ongoing issues surrounding the road project have underscored the need for improved communication, planning, and execution in major infrastructure developments in Guyana.
