Two key road projects in Mabaruma, Region One, are under scrutiny after repeated complaints from residents about poor execution and stalled work, according to APNU Members of Parliament Sherod Duncan.
Duncan, in a missive to the media on Tuesday, said he visited Mabaruma with colleague MP, Juretha Fernandes between January 9 and 12, 2026, when he come accross residents lamenting the state of the projects.
He reported that the G$80.6M Barabina Hill Road Project and the G$200M Silver Hill (Hobo Hill) Road Project demonstrate a “troubling pattern of announcements without delivery, weak accountability, and poor execution.”
Regarding Barabina Hill Road, Duncan noted that residents have long complained about the road’s deteriorating condition. Despite a government announcement in mid-2025, just before elections, that construction would begin “within two weeks,” progress has been minimal.
He noted that only one contractor has recently begun limited work on a single lot, leaving the majority of the road in poor condition. Duncan further criticized the lack of transparency, stating that there is no easily verifiable record identifying the awarded contractor, contract sum, or award date in the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board’s public records.
At Silver Hill (Hobo Hill), he noted that concerns center on the quality of completed work. Residents report that a section of newly constructed road had to be dug up because it was improperly built.
He added that residents also complained about the thickness of the road not meeting specifications.
Duncan noted that requests for the bill of quantities have reportedly been refused, leaving residents without clarity on why the road failed so quickly.
The project, valued at approximately G$200M and linking Hobo Hill to the Mabaruma airstrip corridor, is part of the Ministry of Public Works’ hinterland roads programme. While funding and tender details are public, Duncan said that updates have largely been communicated through budget speeches and ministerial visits rather than through regular, standalone disclosures.
“These two projects illustrate a broader issue: infrastructure announcements are being treated as outcomes, while transparency, quality assurance, and completion remain unresolved. Residents of Mabaruma deserve roads built to standard, clear information on contracts and costs, and consistent delivery, not repeated promises followed by delay, rework, and silence.
I will continue to press for full disclosure, accountability, and remedial action so that public funds translate into safe, durable infrastructure for the people of Region One,” the MP said.
