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Former Member

Govt withholds assets; stymies Opposition’s work 

PPP/Civic Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

PPP/Civic Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

…Granger’s Opposition office should be audited – PPP

 

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has accused the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government of what it said were “double standards” in its move towards transparency and accountability as far as State assets were concerned.

The PPP made the statement in light of the Government’s inability to hand over State assets to furnish the Office of the Opposition Leader, which has stymied the work of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

The situation seems to be getting out of control, the PPP/C said, as the Party has already identified its office and has been awaiting the furnishings to get on with its work.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

Party members on Monday said Government has not been able to hand over the furnishings it utilised while it was in the Opposition, so that the now Opposition could move ahead with its work.

PPP/Civic Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, who was assigned by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to follow up the matter, told the press that some five months after the elections and several smooth transitions, the Party could not move forward in this regard.

The PPP/C, she said, was prepared on Saturday last to begin removing the furnishing from the office, which was occupied by President David Granger on Hadfield Street, but was informed by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon that Government was not ready to allow this.

“This is a serious constitutional issue. We have our building; we are ready to move. And that is why we say that there are threats to the parliamentary democracy of our country. We make no bones about it. The threat is not only in the parliamentary committee, it now comes into the realm of what is constitutionally required implementation,” Teixeira said.

Among the assets still to be handed over to the Opposition, Teixeira related, are 13 laptops.

In enquiring about these, the Chief Whip said she was told that APNU could not hand over the laptops to the PPP since “personal files” were still on the computers.

Teixeira reminded that the Office of the Opposition was constitutionally accommodated and there were provisions in the law, which allowed for its full functioning.

 

Limited

According to her, the budget for the Office as it stands now is very limited and will be unable to provide any additional burden by way of purchasing the same assets again.

“The budget for the Office of the Opposition Leader was less than $15 million. I was advised by Parliament Office that there is $10 million left. From $10 million, one pays for the rent, one pays for the staff and electricity, so that the number of staff is also stipulated.”

She said former President Jagdeo has already indicated that he would not be accepting the salary of the Leader of the Opposition and so the only money the Office of the Opposition has was that $10 million that has been budgeted.

Asked if the Party would prefer receiving new items in lieu of what were currently with Government, Teixeira said taxpayers monies were given to the “Leader of the Opposition Office” via the Budget. She said the Parliament Office would usually purchase these items under the capital budget.

“If you’re telling me that out of that $10 million, we make a choice. Do we buy equipment or we pay people or we do not pay the rent. My point is point of principle and financial regulation.” Five months, she added, is too long for this transaction not to have been completed.

More than that, she stressed that Government must also be held accountable, particularly because it has been carrying out the State Asset Recovery Programme.

Teixeira lamented that if the Party did not get down to furnishing the building, it would have to be given up. The Office is located on Church Street where the Suriname Embassy was. “ We have a contract. Within the parliamentary confines as what is stipulated as rent for the building, we don’t have an open ended arrangement, Parliament budget defines that. The building cannot be occupied unless we have the assets that were purchased for the building.

“It was entered into the assets register of the Parliament Office, marked for the Office of the Opposition and handed over to the Opposition Leader at Hadfield Street,” Teixeira said of the assets. She said the Party had been advised against fighting over those assets, but as things are, there is a budget that is limited in Parliament.

“This has never happened before; we have never experienced this before,” Teixeira continued

In June, after taking up office, the present Administration set up a unit to go after missing State assets. Minister Harmon had noted that the unit would be a multi-agency one, independent and free from political intervention.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

I the government is not supplying the opposition the necessities to maintain its office this is a travesty. It is the reason the US has a civilian agency to take care of continuing government processes. The administration should not be petty with state business.

FM
Originally Posted by D2:
Originally Posted by Nehru:

the pnc and the two servicing house slaves will destroy Guyana in less than 5 years!!!

Shut your behind

Well you open yours as usual.

Nehru
Originally Posted by Nehru:
Originally Posted by D2:
Originally Posted by Nehru:

the pnc and the two servicing house slaves will destroy Guyana in less than 5 years!!!

Shut your behind

Well you open yours as usual.

I guess that is why you appear bitchy daily.....it is what you know. Where is your bottom boy Cobra?

FM

"Among the assets still to be handed over to the Opposition, Teixeira related, are 13 laptops.

In enquiring about these, the Chief Whip said she was told that APNU could not hand over the laptops to the PPP since “personal files” were still on the computers."

 

Ahmmm...we want the laptops that was used in the

opposition office.

Django
Last edited by Django

They obviously should not set hands on them without the laptops undergoing an industrial strength wipe. With over the counter tools one can recover data even from a low level format. I would not send them the hard drives but replace them and restore the machines. Also, the machines have been in use for 3 years minimum so they cannot be of use. They ought to be replaced with new ones and the old ones handed over to deserving kids at some charity event.

FM

Harmon says Opposition PPP never made contact over equipment for Opposition Leader’s Office

“From the day we moved from that building when we came into office they were entitled to it, they took their own time and now wants the world to move at their pace,” Harmon said.

Harmon says Opposition PPP never made contact over equipment for Opposition Leader’s Office

The APNU+AFC government is renting the former office of the Opposition Leader, located at Hadfield Street Georgetown, for the sum of $400,000 per month and the building is being used to house the offices of two Presidential Advisors.

During a brief interview on Tuesday, Minister of State, Joe Harmon said the APNU, after being elected to office, continued to pay the rent for the building in the same sum as it did while in opposition and the building is now being used as an annex to the Office of the President.

He confirmed that the Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Gary Best and Presidential Advisor on National Security, Edward Collins along with their staff are currently housed at the Hadfield Street complex.

The building is owned by the Hughes Fields and Stoby law firm.

Prior to the May 11 elections, the building was being rented by the Parliament Office to serve as the office for then Opposition Leader David Granger.

Its transfer to an annex of the President’s Office came to light on Monday when the People’s Progressive Party accused the APNU of being unable to account for some of the assets that were given to the party while in opposition.

PPP Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira claimed that some 13 laptops along with other equipment cannot be located.

However, Harmon is refuting those claims and he told the media that all of the assets which were given to the party while in opposition are available and ready to be handed over to the PPP.

“From the day we moved from that building when we came into office they were entitled to it, they took their own time and now wants the world to move at their pace,” Harmon said.

He claimed that Teixeira never contacted him or President Granger on matters relating to the laptops.

“I don’t know why they want to conduct business on the television. If the issue is about the computers then they can talk to us and clarify those matters,” Harmon added, but still did not disclose the whereabouts of the supposed missing laptops.

“I don’t know what the PPP believes is in there, it’s just some furniture and a photo copy machine. They can get it whenever they want and the Clerk of the National Assembly is aware of it, so I don’t know what hot air they are blowing, if they don’t have anything to say, why don’t they shut up,” Harmon said.

 

http://newssourcegy.com/news/h...tion-leaders-office/

Mars

“I am not moving any furniture for Rohee or for Jagdeo” – Harmon responds

Office of the Leader of the Opposition [photo from http://www.ibike.org/)Office of the Leader of the Opposition (photo from http://www.ibike.org/)

State Minister Joseph Harmon has made it clear that he will not be moving any furniture for any Member of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party.

This is after, Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira on Monday told reporters that the Government was wilfully withholding resources from the office of the Opposition Leader. This, according to Teixeira, was stymieing the work of the Opposition.

But Harmon retorted on Tuesday making it clear that all of the resources are available for the Opposition. He stated that the Opposition knows the channels through which they can go to acquire the resources.

“The furniture is in the building they have to come and move it. I am not moving any furniture for Rohee or for Jagdeo or anybody. It is there they can get it when they want,” said Harmon.

According to the State Minister, The Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs is aware of the situation since he serves as the intermediary between the Government and Opposition on this particular issue.

“If they want to get it….why is he making noise about furniture…Ms Teixeira has not contacted me neither has she contacted the President on this matter. If there is an issue about computers let them contact us…what is the big thing about a couple of computers,” he questioned.

Teixeira claimed during a recent inspection pieces of equipment including 13 laptop computers could not be accounted for.
 
Mars
Originally Posted by Nehru:

the pnc and the two servicing house slaves will destroy Guyana in less than 5 years!!!

 

PNC will destroy Guyana in ONE year.  

 

Six months under PNC and we have a recession, rice is dead, sugar is dead, crime is worse since independence and PNC fat pigs are getting 100 Percent pay increase while they bankrupt Guyana.

 

PNC cannot even run a cake shop, how can they run a country ?

FM
Originally Posted by yuji22:

Our grandparents were correct about the PNC, they are cursed and they have KoKoBeah.

That's where you got your racism from. You should know better but choose not to,that's a sure sign of vermin.

cain

Rohee should “shut up” about siphoned equipment, furniture

 

Missing Opposition Leader office assets…

… but building being rented by my Ministry – Harmon

 

BY ALEXIS RODNEY, October 7, 2015 By , Source

 

Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Monday denied claims made by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) that Government was holding onto assets which belonged to the office of Leader of the Opposition and may have already siphoned off some.


Harmon revealed that some of the very assets identified by the PPP are available for pick up at any given time. The Minister argued too that he will not be “moving any furniture for anybody. It is there”.

 

PPP Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

PPP Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

PPP Chief Whip Gail Teixeira on Monday had accused Government, particularly the Minister of State, of refusing to let go of furniture and other furnishings to be placed in the office of the Opposition Leader.

She said that the office, located on Church Street, was already contracted. However, the work of the Opposition was being stymied because there were no furnishings in the building.

But Harmon, speaking to the media on Tuesday, said the PPP is very much aware that the furniture could be accessed at any time. “The Clerk of the National Assembly is aware of it. So I don’t know what noise (Mr Rohee) is blowing. If he doesn’t have anything to say, why don’t he shut up and go and do something”…. “The furniture is in the building they have to come and move it. I am not moving any furniture for Rohee or for Jagdeo or anybody. It is there they can get it when they want,” the State Minister said.

Teixeira, who was assigned by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to follow the matter, told the press that some five months after the election and several smooth transitions, the party cannot move forward in this regard.

The PPP/C she said was prepared on the evening of Saturday last, to begin removing the furnishing from the office which was occupied by the A Partnership for National Unity on Hadfield Street, but was informed by Minister of State Joseph Harmon that Government was not ready to allow this.

Among the assets still to be handed over to the Opposition, Teixeira related are 13 laptops. Enquiring about these, the Chief Whip related that she was told that they could not be handed over since they have personals files.

But Harmon said “Ms Teixeira has not contacted me neither has she contacted the President on this matter. If there is an issue about computers let them contact us, Harmon said.

According to the Minister, the PPP is behaving as if the world is in the office.

“It’s just a bicycle, a photocopying machine and some computers… why would we want to keep that… let them go at 61 Hadfield Street and get them.”

Harmon admitted that the office previously occupied by the A Partnership for National Unity while in Opposition, is functioning as an extension to the Office of the President or the Ministry of the Presidency. Currently, it houses the Presidential Advisors on the Environment and National Security, along with their respective officers.

On Monday, Teixeira had reminded that the Office of the Opposition is a constitutionally accommodated position, and that there are provisions in the law, which allow for its full functioning.

According to her, the budget for the office as it stands now is very limited and it would be unable to provide any additional burden by way of purchasing the same assets again.

Asked if the Party would prefer receiving new items in lieu of what are currently with Government, Teixeira said taxpayers monies were given to the budget under the “Leader of the Opposition office”. She said the Parliament office would usually purchase these items under the capital budget.

“If you’re telling me that out of that $10 million, we make a choice. Do we buy equipment or we pay people or we do not pay the rent. My point is point of principle and financial regulation”. Five months, she added is too long for this transaction not to have been completed.

More than that, she stressed that Government must also be held accountable, particularly because it has been carrying out the State Asset Recovery programme.

FM
Last edited by Former Member

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