Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has blasted Minister of State Joseph Harmon over recent comments he made in relation to the Coalition government not being able to locate the contracts for major projects, such as the Amaila Falls Hydro and the Specialty Hospital projects, which came about under the PPP/C administration.
Harmon at a recent press conference recently declared that “there are some contracts that had so many confidentiality that they are so deeply buried that until now we can’t see them and I make reference to at least two such contracts; one is the contract of the Specialty Hospital that he spoke about.”
However, Jagdeo today fired back at the Minister, positing that he finds it “extremely strange” that Harmon would not respond to the totality of his (Jagdeo’s) statement on the issue at hand.
The Opposition Leader was adamant that he had a different account of the matter and can back it up by providing the evidence.
He said: “While Mr. Harmon has said he is still to set his eyes on the contracts for the Amaila Falls Hydropower project and the Specialty Hospital, in both cases I can prove a different story. I am reliably informed that the Ramotar Administration gave several briefings to APNU and AFC on the Amaila Falls Hydropower project and most of the technical documents were shared with them in that period. I am also aware that in the post-election period a CD containing the documents related to the Amaila project was given to a Cabinet sub-committee. It is not my fault if they don’t even know what they have. Mr. Harmon can easily check that CD and find the documents”.
Below is the statement issued by Jagdeo today:
I had asked for the APNU+AFC Government to release the evaluation reports and contracts for several projects initiated by the PPP/C Government which they have labeled as corrupt.
While Mr. Harmon has said he is still to set his eyes on the contracts for the Amaila Falls Hydropower project and the Specialty Hospital, in both cases I can prove a different story. I am reliably informed that the Ramotar Administration gave several briefings to APNU and AFC on the Amaila Falls Hydropower project and most of the technical documents were shared with them in that period. I am also aware that in the post-election period a CD containing the documents related to the Amaila project was given to a Cabinet sub-committee. It is not my fault if they don’t even know what they have. Mr. Harmon can easily check that CD and find the documents.
On the issue of the Specialty Hospital, how can Mr. Harmon say that he cannot find the contract or the evaluation report for release? It was the same evaluation report that the APNU+AFC Government used to justify their push of Fedders Lloyd as the new contractor, claiming that that company was ranked number two in the evaluation report, a contention that was proven to be inaccurate.
However, I will deal with these issues more comprehensively on my return to Guyana.
It is clear that APNU+AFC is fearful of releasing the evaluation reports and contracts for projects they dubbed corrupt because the Coalition Government would be further exposed for misleading Guyanese on these matters. At the end of the day, APNU+AFC cannot run from its promise of being transparent and accountable to the Guyanese people. They have a responsibility to release the evaluation reports and contracts for those projects under the PPP/C they labeled as corrupt.
Furthermore, I saw Mr. Harmon saying I can’t run Government from Freedom House. But at no time would I want to be credited with managing the incompetence that APNU+AFC Government is passing off to the Guyanese people as governing this country.
BLAST THEM JAGGY! You are the ONLY HOPE the INDO Guyanese have suffering at the hands of these criminals….Take a look at their actions and it will show you the struggle….RACISM within them to the fullest…Minister Felix handed out 9M worth of food to Berbice, not ONE single INDO Guyanese receiver a package….Take a look at the article and pictures….He now implemented Passport office in LINDEN….Which is way closer to GT than BERBICE….But because Berbice is widely populated with INDO, let them suffer is their MOTTO…So much for Moses and Rumjattan powerless status….Harmon is the next HAMMY GREEN from the Burhnam era….This time do not make the same mistake JAGAN did in 1992…JAIL all of them when you are back in power and dismantle the PNC for good……
Both Jagdeo and Ramotar misgovern this country Guyana,with alleged corrupt and incompetent practices.Who don`t know this,are those who don`t care to know.The forensic audit has shown clearly the discrepancies and frauds that were the rule of the days.The PPP had its opportunities,Some good things were done,yes,but MESSED UP BIG TIME.in most areas.
Lil Joe only reading chinese now,very selective memory.