GEORGETOWN – The leader of the WIN Party, Azruddin Mohamed, has launched a fierce attack on the government’s infrastructure program, issuing a public statement claiming that the Karasabai Secondary School project in Region 9 remains tragically unfinished, forcing hundreds of students to endure “unsanitary” and substandard learning conditions.
Mohamed focused his critique on the plight of the 352 enrolled students, claiming they are currently “disenfranchised” and crammed into the Karasabai Primary School. The situation is so dire, he alleged, that some students are being taught “under a benab” and are forced to use the available pit latrine. Compounding the health crisis, the statement claims both schools are without running water, leading to unsanitary conditions and the occasional closure of the toilets.
The WIN leader further highlighted the profound impact of the construction delays on families and educators. He claimed that students from surrounding subdistricts and as far away as Region 8 must find guardians, resulting in allegedly substandard living conditions due to the lack of a dorm facility. Teachers, he claimed, are also suffering, sometimes having to sit in the compound to complete lesson plans and reports due to the absence of a staff room.
The center of the controversy is a major government contract. The statement notes that the government issued a $1.7 billion contract to Avinash Construction in 2022, with an initial completion deadline set for early 2025. Yet, Mohamed claims, the project remains incomplete, forcing students and teachers to continue enduring overcrowding and poor facilities.
In a direct political barb, Mohamed urged Minister Sonia Parag to “check with your superior to enquire about the progress of the school’s construction, since the project was awarded to his best friend.” This allegation of cronyism and political favoritism is placed squarely against the backdrop of the students’ suffering.
Mohamed demanded immediate action, urging the Minister to ensure the children receive improved interim structures. He concluded: “The people of Karasabai deserve better.”
