Gov’t moves to recover $4M from ‘shady’ Civil Society Organiser for use of Conference Center

By Fareeza Haniff

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Guyana government says it is taking “appropriate steps” to recover $4 million from Organiser of the Guyana National Council on Public Policy (GNCPP), Phillip Thomas, who used the services of the International Conference Center at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara on December 17, 2014.

Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon told Reporters that Thomas utilized the services of the conference center to host a two days summit, bringing together all of Guyana’s Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organizations (NGO’s/CSOs).

However, the $4 million cheque provided by Thomas to government was not honoured by the bank, Dr Luncheon revealed.

Prior to the hosting of the summit by the GNCPP, the Office of the President had distanced itself from the group, stating it is unaware of the existence and of the “locus standi of the organisation in Guyana.”

The government had urged the public to disassociate itself from the event and not to participate.

A press statement from the President’s Office had noted that “Mr. Phillip Mozart Thomas, the organiser behind the activity has been found to be of a shady character.”

“Further, it has been brought to the attention of the Office of the President that qualifications Mr. Thomas purports to possess are highly suspicious. Research has revealed that the institutions where Mr. Thomas purported to have received his qualifications are unknown institutions, and lack well established bona fides,” the statement noted.

The statement further revealed that Thomas is known to have leanings in favour of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).