‘…almost one billion dollars were illegally utilised on a project that was not budgeted for’ – Opposition
The Opposition PPP/C said it views with “disgust and outrage” the Granger-led APNU+AFC government raiding the treasury of an additional $500 million for the controversial Durban Park Jubilee project.
Under intense scrutiny during the examination of the 2017 Estimates of Expenditure, it was discovered that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure is seeking the additional monies to pay contractors and suppliers who were engaged by Home Stretch Development (HDI) “without any tendering process”.
A statement issued tonight by the Office of the Opposition Leader said “it is important to note that out of an expenditure of over one billion dollars, only twenty seven million (M$27) was received in cash donations and thirty-three million dollars was received in ‘kind’ donations”
“The Ministry of Public Infrastructure has allowed itself to be used as a conduit to accommodate this highly irregular and vulgar transaction,” the Opposition declared.
“We wish to remind that the Opposition, by way of motion, has sought disclosure on the sums expended, the contractors and amounts paid to them, liabilities and other information that would have ensured accountability and transparency. This motion was defeated on November 21, 2016 when it was debated. At that occasion, the Minister of Public Infrastructure selectively provided skimpish information,” the statement pointed out.
According to the Opposition, this new information means that almost one billion dollars was illegally utilised on a project that was not budgeted for, clearly deceiving the Guyanese people that the Durban Jubilee Park was a privately funded project.
The Opposition PPP/C calls on the Auditor General of Guyana to conduct an immediate forensic audit of all revenues, expenditure and donations received.
