The Amaila Falls Hydro Project became a victim of Guyana’s political culture. The new Cheddi Jagan Airport and the Specialty Hospital are now in jeopardy. It is not known how the PPP came about the idea that it can move these projects forward in the National Assembly without a far higher degree of collaboration and trust. A party of such vast experience appears to believe that once there are ‘healthy political debates,’ whatever the outcome, all are then expected to act the ‘interests of the country.’ Who determines those interests?
It is Guyana’s authoritarian political culture that is responsible for the failure of Amaila. This culture gave us the Skeldon Factory, the new Cheddi Jagan Airport and the Specialty Hospital with no ‘healthy political debate’ or consultation, and Amaila with initially little more than nominal disclosures. These flowed more freely only when opposition votes in the National Assembly became necessary. Amaila was conceived, planned, negotiated and announced without any consultation or ‘healthy political debate,’ first as a fait accompli, then followed by a scramble for ex post facto support from the opposition.
Over the past few weeks in relation to Amaila, three significant issues were on the table. The opposition said that all their
