(Kaieteur News) – Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Ganesh Mahipaul has launched an attack on the Ali administration, demanding a full public explanation for the decision to allocate $496.3M of taxpayers’ money toward establishing a state-owned bottled water plant.

Labelling the move a “classic case of misplaced priorities,” Mahipaul argued that the government is wasting massive financial resources to enter a market that is already overwhelmingly controlled and supplied by private Guyanese businesses, while households across the country continue to suffer from inadequate water treatment and distribution infrastructure.

In his statement, Mahipaul directly challenged the government’s core rationale, defended by President Ali, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, and Minister Deodat Indar, that state intervention is necessary to eliminate bottled water imports.