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Govt.’s handling of Harmon-related issues unsatisfactory

May 4, 2016 | By | Filed Under News
 

–    Too many questions remain outstanding; these matters cannot be put to rest – Chris Ram
 “A democracy requires accountability, and accountability requires transparency.”

This quote has been attributed to United States President Barack Obama, and for one prominent Guyanese, certainly does not represent the current state of affairs in the “Land of many waters”.

Anti-corruption advocate, Christopher Ram

Anti-corruption advocate, Christopher Ram

Attorney at Law, Christopher Ram, a believer in Obama’s mantra, is not satisfied with the level of accountability being delivered to the citizens of Guyana by the APNU+AFC coalition government.
The administration had presented itself to the nation as a fortress of change and a believer of accountability. However, Ram’s sentiment as conveyed to Kaieteur News yesterday is that he remains expectant, but the level of accountability that was promised is yet to be delivered.
Such sentiments were expressed as the lawyer spoke on matters surrounding the actions of the Minister of State Joseph Harmon.
Harmon, the most vocal politician on corruption while in opposition, was recently embroiled in a series of controversies.
The Minister’s trip to China has raised many questions. He was seen on a private jet surrounded by the Chu family—the owners of BaiShanLin. Accompanying Harmon on that trip was businessman Brian Tiwarie whom he had appointed Ministerial Advisor on Business Development. That appointment has since been rescinded by President David Granger.
Harmon had also halted a seizure operation – involving a number of high end vehicles – that was being carried out on BaiShanLin. The operation was being executed by the Guyana Revenue Authority in collaboration with officials from the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU). These vehicles were being seized due to the fact that the Chinese company failed to pay the required duties within the legally stipulated timeframe.
But before officials from the GRA and SOCU could have carried out the seizures, they received a call from Harmon who instructed that the vehicles must not be removed.

Harmon and the Chu family on a private jet.

Harmon and the Chu family on a private jet.

Ram was quoted in sections of the media speaking out on both issues. He had said that there must be investigations and that the matters must be dealt with in a way to deter recurrence.
Yesterday the anti-corruption advocate said that he is not aware that there has indeed been any investigation; much less one that was through.
Ram said that it seems as if Cabinet is satisfied based on what it was told, but the nation remains at a loss.
“The nation is still not sure what the government has done. We know that a couple of statements were issued and that’s it.”
Ram said that this is not remotely satisfactory to settle a matter as serious as the one that rocked the nation to the extent that revelations of Harmon’s actions did.
He stressed that if anything, all those statements served to do was raise even more concerns and uncertainties.
“Citizens are left to speculate, we still do not know the sequence of events.  What prompted NICIL to send its legal Officer and a non-executive member to China?”
Statements released to the press indicated that Harmon visited China to retrieve an outstanding US$5M from the company that bought government’s 20 per cent shares in GTT. There has since been conflicting information surrounding even that development.
Ram is questioning in this age of technology why was it necessary for Harmon to visit China to find out about that sum.
The lawyer said that there are still too many burning questions that need to be answered before this matter can be put to rest. He emphasized that it is time that the country practice real transparency and accountability.
Ram also pointed out that the Transparency Institute was directed by President Granger to speak with Harmon after it made statements about the possibility of corruption existing in the new government. Ram said that a request was made and a statement will be forthcoming about the outcome of that request.
Initially, Ram had told Kaieteur News, “If there are breaches whether in GRA or in the Ministry of the Presidency then actions have to be taken by President David Granger to show that his administration is serious about stemming reckless, unlawful and/or corrupt behaviour in the bud.”
Several Government Ministers have declined to give on-the-record comments on the matter.
Harmon was noted in the media on several occasions lambasting BaiShanLin for its reckless operations in Guyana as well as the former regime for its encouragement of the company’s actions.
In fact, the Minister of State in 2014 had said that the former government has been silent about BaiShanLin’s “immoral and abusive acts” and “there can only be one logical conclusion for that—they are benefitting financially in exchange for allowing the rape to continue.
“Citizens need to understand the corrupt beast that it (former Govt.) is dealing with.”
He had said, too, “It is only a win-win deal for the parties involved and BaiShanLin’s kickbacks seem to have silenced the (former) government.”
It was Harmon who said that he found it sickening that former President Bharrat Jagdeo invited BaiShanLin to this country under the pretext that it was going to foster good developments, and all along the true intention was to rape this country of its resources.
Harmon had also said, “It seems that the (former) Government is being paid to shut its mouth…These companies are just being encouraged to gut this country, and indicators show that Guyana is slipping further into the abyss of poverty.”

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Still questions about Joe Harmon

May 4, 2016 | By | Filed Under Letters 

Dear Editor,
In response to your April 29th, 2016 lead story, “Sale of GTT shares…Buyer claims side deal done to waive remaining US$5M,” with the strapline, ‘Company’s statement contradicts Trotman’s’, it is my fervent hope that the private media continue to keep this issue in the spotlight, because I am becoming increasingly convinced that not only did skullduggery take place, but there isan attempt to cover it up. This is not a private matter because involves public funds.
In my previous related letter to KN published April 28, I sought clarification on the two Chinese companies named as purchasers of the GT&T 20% shares, but even NICIL’s Dr. Maurice Odle’s clarification had to be read twice in order to sift through the maze of names to get a grasp of who we have been dealing with in China.
I am not sure whether Messrs.  Anil Nandlall or Donald Ramotar could have attempted such a clarification, but it sure boggles the mind that the Ramotar administration would have allowed such a confusing deal to go through in 2012,without questioning why Datang of Hong Kong Golden Telecom would insist on having any potential legal issues resolved in Britain and not Guyana.
It is as if the Chinese knew a legal issue would be forthcoming, so they left Guyana to try and settle the issue through diplomatic channels, which apparently resulted in some sort of verbal agreement between former Guyana Ambassador to China, Dr. David Dabydeen and the Chinese buyers. Even if Guyana disputes the claims that the outstanding balance of US$5M was paid, where will it go to eventually settle this matter?
This is why the coalition government needs to come clean with the people of Guyana, because this matter involves public funds, and so the regime must make public all copies of the documents Minister of State Joseph Harmon has in his possession purporting to show the money was paid before May 11, 2015.
I also still cannot understand why the Minister of State got involved in this matter that should have been addressed by Foreign Minister, Carl Greenidge, and Finance Minister, Winston Jordan. This is also why many observers are developing the belief that Minister Harmon has too much authority or oversteps his boundary line.
For example, one of the reasons why Mr. Greenidge was appointed Foreign Minister, according to President David Granger, was to use his background in finance and economics to woo foreign investors. Yet, it was Minister of State Harmon who traveled to China and reportedly tried and woo investors in Guyana by securing deals, of which many Guyanese don’t really know the details.
Anyway, the issue of the moment is what happened to theUS$5M. The coalition allowed Mr. Winston Brassington to leave Guyana to live and work in Florida with a lot of open-ended issues, and now we have Minister of State Harmon reportedly traveling to Florida after his brow-raising China trip. When will the people of Guyana, but especially GT&T employees, know the full facts about the sold GT&T shares?
By the way, when the Jagdeo regime sold New GPC to his best friend Dr. Ransinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, wasn’t there a clause in the sale agreement for New GPC workers to partake in a 10% share of the company? If yes, then what is the status of that share? It is bad enough the GT& T employees were denied a right to own shares in their own company, but foreigners can own such shares in a controversial deal, so what’s up with the New GPC 10% shares for employees?
Emile Mervin

FM

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