Wasteful spending is completely unacceptable — Jamil Changlee — Opinion

Wasteful spending is completely unacceptable

October 18, 2026·4 min read

Dear Editor,

Fallen leaders of a bygone time, new leaders with reckless tendencies, and total disregard for our history of difficulties and struggle. For example, the wasteful spending due to the poor location selection for the Gas to Energy Project^[1]. It does not matter which generation you are from, $100M USD is a substantial amount of our money that had to be spent which could have been easily avoided if they had picked a location that was on solid ground. These are funds that could have been used to prevent the MV Barima tragedy^[2] and could have been used to improve the rescue preparedness and capabilities of our Coast Guard. The level of wasteful spending that is occurring is completely unacceptable.

Have they forgotten what it was like before? Have they forgotten the lack of running water, the lack of electricity and the lack of food in the stores? Have they forgotten the long lines for basic food items? Have they forgotten having to use the newspaper when toilet paper was not available? Leaders had to go to those that took advantage of us to borrow money that we urgently needed to keep the country running and our people healthy. Have they forgotten the lack of medicine to take care of the sick? Now we have medical bonds where medical resources go to waste. Past presidents had to seek loan forgiveness because it was difficult to pay off the loans. We can no longer afford any leader who has a propensity to waste. There was a time when being in government meant an opportunity to help your community and uplift those around you. Now it is now turning into an opportunity to fatten pockets. The Chinese are purging their ranks of the corrupt and incompetent. It’s time that we did as well. When the example being set is rooted in greed there is theft and greed throughout the land until those in positions of power who are doing wrong are uprooted.

Instead of being conservative, cautious, and responsible in our spending, wastefulness is everywhere. We do not need anyone who has no respect for the sacrifices made in the past. We have no need for any leader who does not respect the value of a hard earned dollar. Waste not want not! Instead of creating a clean and safe environment that is inviting and allows for prosperity, we have one where leaders seek trouble and a grand spectacle that tells the outside world that Guyana is a place to avoid. The lack of discipline and professionalism is very evident.

The country is stretched beyond its capacity, yet the greedy are still pushing for faster development so they can get their hands on the funds in the NRF and Consolidated Fund. The cries for more money and larger budgets have already begun in preparation for next year’s budget. However, they are still leaving the country without the results we need to truly move forward and progress. Shootouts at night, cutlasses being wielded in public when there is a conflict, road accidents with passengers due to recklessness, and the nonpayment of suppliers for waste collection^[3] create an atmosphere that conveys chaos and forms the impression that our nation is not ready to move forward with the best of them. We can no longer operate in this manner. We are a people capable of greatness! We can achieve whatever we put our minds to.

If there is a message to be sent via video, hire a professional film crew using the latest technology and have the point made when the timing is appropriate. If there is a disagreement with a reporter or another country’s visa policy have the department of public information and the ministry of foreign affairs deal with their respective matter in a professional manner. There is no need for those in leadership to add to the unprofessional, chaotic, and disrespectful atmosphere that has resulted in increased violence and a lack of tolerance for those who have opposing views. Uncouth behaviour and the commonplace “buse out” must be curtailed as the office being held grows in importance. The expectation is that each leader will carry himself or herself in a manner befitting of his or her duties and responsibilities. A good example must be set for our people and each subsequent generation. We need our leaders to set an example that uplifts our people and helps take our nation to the next stage of development. This does not mean losing our culture nor does it mean losing our passion or love for what we do. What it does mean is creating an environment where other perspectives are welcome and truly considered so we may learn from each other and grow together as a people. Remember, as a knife sharpens another so does one mind sharpen another. Understanding begins with listening, and we must have the patience to listen to each other without the need to kill the other person because of a disagreement.

CRG urges our leaders and those aspiring for roles in leadership to truly consider and reflect upon the approach being taken to resolving problems when they arise. People may forget what you have done, but they will always remember how you have made them feel. And we must not turn our backs on the feelings of others especially now that we have many tragedies upon our homeland. We must slow down and focus on making our nation safe for each other. Wastefulness and greed cannot be a part of this process. We know what it is to struggle together and we know what it is to succeed together. The path forward must not discard the lessons of the past as we continue to try to embrace the opportunities to continue to grow together as one people.

Sincerely,
Mr. Jamil Changlee
Chairman
The Cooperative Republicans of Guyana

References

LACK OF FEASIBILITY STUDY AND POOR PROJECT MANAGEMENT MAJOR FACTORS FOR DELAYED WALES GAS TO ENERGY PROJECT - DR ADAMS - HGPTV - Guyana's Nightly News and Entertainment Channel

www.hgptv.com · 2025-10-23

The Wales Gas-to-Energy Project, once hailed as a major step toward reducing Guyana’s electricity costs, is now facing renewed scrutiny as both Petroleum Engineer and former EPA Director Dr. Vincent Adams and Chairman of Lindsayca, Nelson Drake, point to serious management and planning failures behind its repeated delays. Speaking at the International Business Conference held at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, Drake revealed that US$100 million was spent to stabilize the “unstable soil” at the West Bank Demerara site, resulting in significant construction delays. Despite over 89% of engineering and 90.46% of procurement being completed, only 23% of construction work has been done. Drake explained that the site presented complex challenges due to liquefaction and a rare mix of sands, making it unsuitable for heavy industrial works. He warned that the gas-processing facility “could easily become a bomb at any time if it’s not done properly,” stressing the need for perfect alignment of the turbines and power island. ... Meanwhile, Dr. Vincent Adams said the project’s persistent setbacks stem from the absence of a feasibility study and a lack of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Calling the situation “sheer lawlessness,” Adams noted that ExxonMobil’s EIA for the gas pipeline had clearly stated that a separate study was required for the gas plant—something the government disregarded. He also criticized the administration’s claim that the U.S. EXIM Bank had conducted both a feasibility study and an EIA, saying the project is “falling apart due to poor project management.” Adams stressed that the government must adopt proper monitoring tools such as the Earned Value Management System (EVMS) — an internationally recognized framework for measuring project progress and accountability — if it hopes to complete the project safely and effectively.

Source

Wasteful spending is completely unacceptable in Kiskadee Watch, October 18, 2026

Fast-acting Coast Guard led to the rescue of 50 survivors of the MV Barima – Department of Public Information, Guyana

dpi.gov.gy · 2026-10-16

Hours before the GDFS Shahoud set sail from its base at Ruimveldt, before anyone knew the scale of the tragedy that was unfolding at sea, the Coast Guard had already adopted an all-hands-on-deck approach to the distress signals emanating from a beacon on board the MV Barima. The Presidential Commission of Inquiry heard on Friday that a rapid succession of decisions by commanding officers put Coast Guard marine and air assets in proximity to the spot where the Barima went down. From the moment GDF’s Metal Shark boat arrived at ground zero, the officers onboard followed the debris and the cries in the dark night for help and began pulling survivors from the turbulent water. Between 2 and 3 am on July 19, 50 survivors were rescued. No one was counting. No one was plotting the locations of the survivors on their GPS. It was gut-wrenching and emotionally painful work. That’s the narrative that emerged on Friday as six additional Coast Guard soldiers testified at the inquiry being held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. From their testimony, it is abundantly clear that they too should be treated as survivors. Almost all the soldiers that have testified so far have never, in all their careers, witnessed anything on this scale. And that important detail too was entered into the record along with the fact that many of them required long hours of therapy. ... Within minutes after receiving the distress signal from the control tower at CJIA, a Coast Guard team was deployed from the closest position to the signal. That task was assigned to GDF’s Pomeroon floating base. Midshipman Rahul Ramsarup, the officer commanding the District Two base at the time, testified that he received a WhatsApp message at 10:59 p.m. on July 18, 2026, instructing the team to be ready for a search-and-rescue operation. At 11:07 p.m., he received the coordinates of the maritime distress signal. Ramsarup said he briefed Petty Officer Keon Smith and the team before they departed for the indicated location, believed to be offshore in the vicinity of Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast. “After receiving said coordinates and instructions to depart immediately, I briefed my team on the current situation at hand, and it took them about 15 to 20 minutes to depart to the said coordinates,” he told the commission. Midshipman, Rahul Ramsarup However, communication between Ramsarup and Petty Officer Smith was interrupted shortly after the team left because the vessel’s Starlink battery had died, cutting off its internet connection. Ramsarup confirmed that the vessel had no backup communication system at the time. He explained that travelling from the floating base to the Anna Regina area typically took about two hours during daylight but could take approximately four hours at night because of limited visibility and the need to maintain a safe speed. Ramsarup said he warned the team to exercise caution because it was an exceptionally dark night. He also testified that sea conditions were not discussed in detail during the briefing, beyond the warning about poor visibility. The team returned to the floating base before noon that same day. At approximately 7:30 a.m., a Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) pilot vessel arrived with 50 survivors and one deceased person. Ramsarup said the survivors included adults and children and that the group included MV Barima captain Kevin Price. The Coast Guard then coordinated the transfer of the survivors and the deceased person to Charity, where the survivors were handed over to medical personnel and police. Ramsarup’s records showed that between July 19 and 22, Coast Guard teams rescued and accounted for 69 survivors and recovered 71 bodies during the search operation. Also providing testimony on Friday was Petty Officer Wendell Walcott, a Guyana Coast Guard officer with 17 years of service. He told the inquiry that his team began search-and-rescue operations on July 20, 2026, moving between designated coordinates and searching different sections of the sea. Petty Officer, Wendell Walcott Petty Officer Alwin Hibbert, who has 12 years of service in the Coast Guard, also testified that he was deployed on July 20, 2026, under Commander David Shamsudeen. Hibbert said his initial instructions were to proceed from Coast Guard headquarters in Georgetown to the floating base in the Pomeroon River. However, while en route, the team received information from a fisherman about objects reportedly seen floating in the water. Petty Officer Alwin Hibbert The team made contact with the fisherman, obtained coordinates and diverted to the identified location. “Upon arrival, the fisherman told us the area. When looking, I saw a gasoline tank, a propane tank, then a rooftop, then an icebox and some pillows,” Hibbert told the commission. He said the objects were emerging from the water, helping the team verify that it had reached the area where the vessel was believed to have sunk. ... The sixth witness on day three of the COI, Guyana Coast Guard Sub Lieutenant Mahwana Abrams, testified that search-and-rescue teams were deployed along the coastline and between river mouths following the sinking of the MV Barima, with bodies recovered and transported to Charity during the operation. Abrams said he received instructions on July 19, 2026, from Lieutenant Commander Quincy Agard to report to the Pomeroon floating base and assist with the search. Guyana Coast Guard Sub-Lieutenant Mahwana Abrams Abrams, who was stationed at Morawhanna in Region One, said he departed at approximately 10:00 hrs and began searching the coastline towards the Pomeroon River, covering the area from the Waini vicinity southwards. He arrived at the floating base at approximately 16:30 hrs, having found no survivors or significant debris during the journey. After refuelling, his team resumed searching the waters between the Moruca River mouth and the Pomeroon River mouth, which had been assigned as their area of responsibility.

Cevons threatens to halt waste collection in 2 GT areas over unsustainable rates - Guyana Times

guyanatimesgy.com · 2025-04-22

Cevons threatens to halt waste collection in 2 GT areas over unsustainable rates - Guyana Times # Cevons threatens to halt waste collection in 2 GT areas over unsustainable rates April 22, 2025 #### Private waste collection company Cevons Waste Management, which has been providing waste management services to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council for several years is currently considering halting waste collection services for the council in constituencies nine (Lodge/Meadow Brook Gardens) and 14 (South Ruimveldt Park and Industrial Estate). The company’s position was revealed by Town Clerk Candace Nelson during a recent statutory meeting. In a letter written to the town clerk, Cevons said that it wishes to inform that with current contract rates, the waste management team will be unable to continue providing services in these constituencies nine and 14 beyond the contract extension date. According to the company, the current rates are not economically viable, given the rising cost of labour maintenance and other critical operational expenses. To ensure continued and effective delivery of service in constituencies nine and 14, the waste collection company proposed a minimum acceptable rate of $420,000 per week for both constituencies which will meet operational realities of providing consistent, high quality waste management services for these communities. Cevons Waste Management said, “We may be unable to render services beyond April 21st, 2025. As such, we ask that this matter be addressed with urgency. We are open to further discussion we remain hopeful that a mutually agreeable solution can be reached. Thank you for your continued partnership and understanding.” Speaking on the matter was Mayor of Georgetown, Alfred Mentore explained that to address the situation the council will be requesting a one-month extension to decide the next step forward. Cevons Waste Management started as a private Waste Collection Company in 1997. The company along with Puran Brothers Disposal Inc have been responsible for waste collection in the majority of the constituencies in Georgetown. Garbage collection has been a consistent issue in the capital city. The responsibility of cleaning the city solely falls under the jurisdiction of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (GM&CC) and local democratic organs, who receives a subvention from central Government to fund capital projects. Last year Mayor of Georgetown, Alfred Mentore told media operatives that council allocates $500 million annually for waste collection, encompassing both private and municipal waste management systems. Notwithstanding this, the Government has still been intervening to clean up the city and bring relief to residents. President Dr Irfaan Ali himself has been on several occasions leading the National Clean Up Campaign along with Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips. They along with members of the disciplined services, private sector, volunteers, and residents in communities and around the city have been removing litter and waste from public spaces, making them cleaner and safer for everyone. Earlier this month, VP, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo announced sweeping increases in Government’s subventions for local Government organs, which he said will equip these municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) to deliver better services. With these increases, every NDC will now receive $30 million as their new annual subvention, while each municipality will receive $50 million. Previously, NDCs received subventions of about $5 million, while municipalities received about $18 million.