The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has called for a forensic audit, parliamentary investigation and the dismissal of several senior regional officials, citing what it said were widespread failures in the execution of public projects and spending in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
In a statement, the PNCR, the main partner in the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), said its concerns were based on the minutes of the March 17, 2026 meeting of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), which it argued exposed “gross mismanagement and dereliction of duty” by the government.
Among the party’s principal concerns was what it said was the non-delivery of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) for which payment had reportedly been made in 2025.
“The RDC minutes reveal a disturbing pattern of taxpayer dollars being paid out with nothing to show for it. All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) were paid for in 2025… yet the Region is still ‘awaiting delivery’ from the supplier…,” the party said, adding, “This is not governance; this is daylight robbery,” the party said.
The PNCR also pointed to a number of projects which, it said, had stalled following the termination of contractors.
It cited the Kato dormitory project, stating that the RDC minutes only indicated that it “will be completed this year” without identifying a replacement contractor or providing a timeline. It also referred to the Monkey Creek bridge at Kaibarupai, where it said the original contract had been terminated and officials had merely indicated that the work “is going to be awarded to another contractor.”
The party further contended that works on the Muruwa School extension, Wailang School and several health projects remained incomplete.
Among the health projects identified were the Kuribrong Health Post, which the RDC minutes reportedly said the contractor had undertaken to complete by the end of April, the Junction Health Post, which was described as being in “several phases,” the Sand Hill Health Centre, which required additional materials, and the malaria department building, where electrical installation and doors were still outstanding.
The PNCR also criticised the pace of capital spending in the region, claiming that none of the region’s capital allocation had been utilised at the time of the March RDC meeting.
“Not a single programme has expended one dollar from the capital budget,” the party said, despite a capital allocation of more than $1.08 billion across public works, education, health, agriculture and regional administration.
According to the party, recurrent expenditure at the time stood at 14.4 per cent of the overall budget.
The statement also highlighted concerns in the education sector, citing the RDC minutes as showing that of the region’s 410 teachers, 211 were in training while 38 remained untrained.
It further alleged that several nursery schools were either not operational or lacked basic facilities. Among them were Princeville Nursery School, which it said had been gazetted but was not functioning, Taruka Nursery School, which was reportedly without electricity, furniture, transportation and internet access, and Monkey Mountain Nursery School, where fencing was still outstanding.
The PNCR further pointed to road and bridge projects which it said remained incomplete, including bridges at Itabac, Sand Hill, Monkey Mountain and Kato, as well as rehabilitation works on roads linking Paramakatoi and Karisparu, Kanapang and Penack, Arasawa and Maikwak, and Katchcow and Orinduik.
The party called for a forensic audit into payments for undelivered goods, including the ATVs, a public explanation from the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development over the reported underutilisation of capital funds, the removal of the Regional Executive Officer, Deputy Regional Executive Officer and programme heads, and the re-tendering of terminated contracts within 30 days.
It also called for a parliamentary investigation into project implementation in the region.
At the March 17 RDC meeting, according to the minutes cited by the PNCR, the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development had also raised concerns about the absence of health workers in Muruwa and shortages of drugs in the region, reportedly directing that the staffing issue be addressed “with immediate effect” and that the regional drug-tracking system be enforced.
Background
Several of the projects referenced by the PNCR have experienced delays or contract terminations that have previously been acknowledged by regional officials.
The Kato Secondary School Dormitory, which forms part of the government’s hinterland education expansion programme, has faced repeated delays after the original contractor failed to complete the works within the contractual period, according to previous statements from the Regional Democratic Council.
Similarly, rehabilitation of the Monkey Creek bridge at Kaibarupai and works on health facilities at Kuribrong and Junction have been included in the Region Eight capital works programme aimed at improving access to healthcare and transportation in remote communities. Regional officials have previously indicated that some projects were affected by contractor performance issues and logistical challenges associated with construction in hinterland areas.
Discussion