Taxpayers have every right to be concerned about how their money is being spent, but unfortunately in some instances proper explanations in this respect are not provided.

While it is important that there is continuous execution of projects to improve infrastructure to attract investors and to facilitate the agriculture sector -- the mainstay of Guyana's economy -- it is equally important that measures are implemented to ensure that durable and reliable work is carried out.

Too many contractors who are guilty of shoddy work have escaped from the penalties they should have faced.

In November last year, there was a serious breach at a dam at Cane Grove on the East Coast Demerara resulting in severe damage to crops, livestock and personal property. In addition there was acute discomfort and threats of outbreak of epidemics. Fortunately, there was no loss of human life.

As a result of the flood damage, the Government had to dig into scarce financial resources to find more than $15M to help the residents who are mainly farmers. The same money could have been used for some other developmental project, if this disaster had not occurred.

The Government correctly set up a team to investigate the causes of the breach. The committee completed its findings and presented its report to Cabinet about a month ago.

It is noteworthy that Cabinet has accepted the findings of the committee which determined that the contractor who executed the project and the National Drainage and Irrigation Board of the Agriculture Ministry were culpable.

Furthermore, the President himself has reiterated that those who are guilty will have to pay the penalties and Guyanese are anxiously awaiting the final results of this entire episode.

Scarce resources cannot be allowed to go down the drain because this will only impede the developmental thrust and threaten to destroy the gains that have been made.

During the presidency of the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan, he advocated that contract documents of projects be made available to community groups and leaders where the projects are being executed.

This, the late President reasoned, would enable the people to become the "eyes and ears" of the Government and give them an opportunity to monitor the projects to ensure that these are executed in accordance with contract documents.

This is a sensible approach and should be maintained.

Some of the findings from the Cane Grove enquiry back up what residents had been saying when the dam was breached.

While it is true that technical matters have to be handled by the competent authorities, at the same time it must be appreciated that much is garnered from experience and while the residents of Cane Grove may be simple folks, they do have knowledge that was gained the hard way.

The voice of the ordinary people should be heeded because it often comes from a wealth of knowledge.