Dear Editor,
Kindly help me by publishing a clarification on a headline news item in Kaieteur News of Sunday, August 1, ‘Fip Motilall sought the assistance of Sam Barakat to source 25 MW Wartsila Power plant.’ This is the second time Kaieteur has published this information without contacting me.

Mr Motilall approached our company to provide turn-key construction cost for a 25 MW Wartsila power plant to be installed at Kingston.

This had nothing to do with sourcing the power plant from Wartsila. After preliminary discussions, it was noted that Mr Motilall did not have access to the technical information required. He was then informed that he did not have the capacity to engage us in this job.

We were the Wartsila country agent and turn-key contractor for the sale and construction of four power plants (total 50 MW), transmission lines and substations, sold between 1993 and 1998. Wartsila negotiated directly with the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Electricity Corporation. There were no third parties or intermediaries in any of the sales. Both the Prime Minister and former Chairman of the then Guyana Electricity Corporation can attest to this fact.

Last November, our company completed the turn-key construction of the new 21 MW Wartsila power plant at Kingston.

We continue to work with Wartsila as a prequalified and certified contractor for warranty issues. We worked directly with Wartsila, Finland and secured this contract on international tender.

I trust that this will help clear the air on speculations and misinformation on my involvement with Wartsila in the last 17 years.

Yours faithfully,
Sam Barakat
CEO
Engineering & Construction Inc