APNU+AFC Councillor Misleads himself

WHEN COUNCILLOR DEONARINE BASDEO TOOK THE FLOOR TO SPEAK HE
WAS PASSIONATE. HE WAS HONEST. HE WAS MISLED.
Basdeo, a Regional Democratic Councillor (RDC) representing the opposition A Partnership for
National Unity, Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) was outraged and complained bitterly about
substandard thoroughfares recently constructed from Number 52 to 54 on the Corentyne.
In the twinkling of an eye the newly-constructed roads deteriorated and craters replaced asphalt.
When he rose to speak, Councillor Basdeo painted the perfect picture of tax-payers moneys
wasted on an inferior product.
Basdeo’s prescription? Surcharged and temporarily blacklist the contractor.
“I don’t know what kind of people they got to fix that road. You got to doge…especially Number
52 where there were some major accidents with fatalities which occurred on this road especially
at 52 and 53. I have friends from overseas who have seen this road and want to know what is
going on here! I had to shut my mouth as I couldn’t say that I am a (Regional) Councillor in
Region 6,” he told his colleagues at Thursday’s monthly RDC meeting.
He was not done yet though.
He referenced another stretch at Number 47 Village which he said was absolutely deplorable too.
The roadwork was so bad that “even a kindergarten child” will notice how exceptionally poor
work was done on that road.
“That road is deplorable…very deplorable. I am calling for emergency (repairs) on this road,
today, we need to go and see the state of this road today and fix the road. (We need) a good

contractor that is capable that can do good work, not substandard work. That’s garbage what they
did there and very soon an accident will happen there and sadly innocent lives will be at stake.
We got to get this done today and I need all my Councillors and everybody as I will support you
(Councillors of the ruling Peoples Progressive Party Civic [PPPC]) the same way if you bring up
something of this importance. I am calling on our Chairman, our Vice Chairman and our REO to
get on board with this now,” the Councillor passionately.
Everything Councillor said was on point.
But his argument had a fatal flaw.
He assumed construction of those thoroughfares was completed under the incumbent PPP/C
seven-month-old coalition.
In fact, the shoddy work was done under his APNU+AFC administration.
It explains why Chairman Armogan had a smirk on his face throughout Basdeo’s passionate
presentation, and why, uncharacteristically, government Councillors nodded in agreement.
Then Armogan rose to speak.
“You are right”, the Chairman said.
“The work that was done was of very poor quality, and it was done by the last government.”
“I wish to congratulate you for being honest, you are very honest. The work was of really bad
quality. I don’t know which contractor they had given the work to, but it was done by them. The
road was badly damaged weeks after, and right now, we are engaging that project that the region
cannot handle.

Since public roads are the responsibility of the Public Works Ministry, the RDC has engaged its
Minister Juan Edghill “and some of the other persons within that ministry to look at the roads
that you are talking about and whether the road in front of NIS at Number 75 village, so its three
areas that we are talking about,” the RC informed the now-surprised Councillor.

He continued: “…and if you noticed the holes that were reported in Canje Bridge, works are
being executed right now to fix those holes in Canje Bridge. The Ministry is working as the
budget is now being rolled out and the RDC is fixing the bridge. Quite a lot of work is going to
happen but unfortunately poor quality of work has left us in this.”
Contractors who worked on the roads cited by the RDC member should be ignored and
arrangements be given to persons with proven expertise to execute infrastructural works
professionally, Armogan said, echoing Basdeo.