Dear Editor,
As a regular reader of your letter column, I have been following most of the letters written by Hamley Case on Unamco. What I find interesting, but disappointing, is that no one from the former administration has ever refuted or denied any aspect of what the gentleman wrote.
I was keenly following the plans and programmes of this company as it emerged during the crisis period of the Berbice River bauxite operation.
It can be recalled that there was a comprehensive plan which would have seen a completely new community developing between Ituni and Kwakwani. This community would have had a plywood factory and all the other facilities which include a school, health centre/hospital and a recreation area.
Editor, how can an administration which boasts so much about development, not even utter a word to refute the most recent claim by Mr Case that if Unamco had been given one tenth of the concessions received by the Chinese company, “the plywood factory would have been up and running and the Linden-Kwakwani Road would have been paved.”
There is no doubt that the multi-million dollar machines to produce plywood were on site and were only recently sold to another plywood company as spare parts. The machines which were on site are a clear indication that this company would have been adding substantial value to our forest products, creating employment, opening a new community and completing a major infrastructure project.
There is no other term than political discrimination to describe the past administration when one think of the benefits that would have derived from this investment in the sub-region of Region Ten. The paved road alone would have reduced the travel time to Kwakwani by two hours (one hour instead of three), tapped into the vast agriculture potential of the Intermediate Savannah, boosted tourism and mining, and so much more. When taken into consideration, Unamco would have had a positive impact on the national coffers and would have been good for all Guyanese.
It is very important that as Guyanese, we hold our elected leaders accountable so that opportunities like the Unamco investment not be allowed to be squandered.
Yours faithfully,
Jocelyn Morian
