Dear Editor,
President Ramotar has broken his silence on NICIL not putting its money into the Consolidated Fund. Many have argued that this practice is a violation of Section 216 of the Guyana Constitution.
Former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran has said NICIL’s refusal to hand over the money to the Consolidated Fund is “criminal” (KN, May 6). This gentleman went on to say, “I have no recollection that Parliament has authorised any expenditure from the NICIL accounts, neither am I aware that NICIL, as a state-owned company incorporated under the Companies Act of 1991, has the authority to intercept funds that truly belong to the Consolidated Fund and to use such funds for purposes extraneous to the defraying of certain expenses referred to above.”
The $50 billion or more NICIL is withholding from the Consolidated Fund is our money. And those arguing against the withholding have made a very convincing case.
Hence, in the light of President Ramotar’s claim that NICIL isn’t doing anything illegal, it becomes his responsibility to prove so by making known to the public the law and/or section in the constitution that allows him to make such claim. Saying it isn’t so does not automatically mean it is not so, and neither is the President above accounting to the people. The citizens need iron clad evidence from the President.
Yours faithfully,
M A Bacchus.
