The $13 billion ICT Project is shaping up to be a wasted opportunity
Dear Editor,
It boggles the judicious mind when in an environment with such a high unemployment rate, (estimated at 18%) Mr. Alexei Ramotar, can make the thoughtless assertion that the use of a local workforce is delaying the government-led fibre optic project. This is like a carpenter blaming his tools and not his own skills.
The ICT Cable project is shaping up to be a huge wasted opportunity. By the time it is completed, the technology could very well be obsolete and the taxpayers will still be saddled with G$13 billion in debt. How can the president live with all the blatant corruption around him and do nothing about it?
The issue with the failure of this project has very little to do with Guyanese workers, but more to do with the Project Manager who is clearly way out of his depth to influence designs, costs and processes to yield timely deliverables and greater improvement in capital productivity.
It is clear he does not know how, when and where to apply techniques to close this Project because of his lack of experience.
It was Alexei Ramotar who said publicly in September 2011 that the cable would be tested in two weeks; it is now close to two years and no deliverables. It was Alexei Ramotar who said in February 2012 that testing of the cables will re-commence; one year has passed and again no results. So why should we believe Alexei Ramotar today?
He has established a track record of – “failure to deliver” and then has the gall to blame the workers. This is the standard line of defence from the Stalinist playbook; they will blame everyone else but themselves. We have seen time and again where this regime has been placing square pegs in round holes and expect to get the job done correctly. This could only happen if they believe in miracles.
At least we can walk away with some modicum of truth from Dr Luncheon, when in September 2012, he revealed that there was “difficulty with the fibre optic cable”. Regardless of this blunder, the taxpayers are still saddled with G$13 billion in debt. For what?
But in true Stalinist style of passing the buck, today we hear from none other than Alexei Ramotar that it is the fault of the Guyanese workers why he has failed. But why did he hide the truth from the people; which remains – he is operating above his skill set. This is a Project for a seasoned IT Project Professional who has the experience, knowledge and core skills to succeed.
Was it the 19th century British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli who spoke of “Lies, damned lies, and statistics?” The nation is faced here with a damned lie that Guyanese workers are the cause for the failure of this ICT Cable Project and a new debt of G$13 billion and we shall not accept it.
How on earth can this type of gross incompetence from top to bottom in the ranks of the PPP, develop Guyana?
Dr. Asquith Rose and
Harish S. Singh