Dear Editor,
Just over a year ago the political opposition along with the Kaieteur News, Christopher Ram and Anand Goolsarran, just to name a few, were expounding to the public about conflict of interest. Their targets were Gitanjali Singh, wife of the Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh and Mr Jonathan Brassington, brother of Winston Brassington, head of the Privatization Unit.
Ms Singh was confirmed as Deputy Auditor General by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee in a position she has acted in for a number of years. Ms Singh has been working at the Auditor General’s Office long before her husband, Dr Ashni Singh, was appointed Minister of Finance and maybe even before they were married.
Mr Jonathan Brassington, brother of Mr Winston Brassington, legitimately and in strict conformity with all applicable laws and regulations, purchased shares in a company privatized by the government. Yet Mr Winston Brassington was accused of conflict of interest.
Fast forward to August 2013 and a most prominent opposition leader is forced into disclosing his association, both financial and professional, with the company contracted by the Government of Guyana to execute the most important of project for the survival and development of Guyana. A project strongly opposed by the entire political opposition camp. Mr Nigel Hughes, Chairman of the AFC was forced into disclosing that he is and has been the Company Secretary of Amaila Falls Hydropower Inc since 2009, which was engaged on a project that his party has been fighting tooth and nail. Imagine, Mr Hughes, who is supposed to act in the best interest of Amaila Falls Hydropower Inc is Chairman of a major political party that was not only opposed to the project but effectively accused its main financer, Sithe Global of ripping off Guyana and its citizens by way of overpricing.
What is even worse, is that even the leader of the AFC, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, publicaly admitted that he had no knowledge of Mr Hughes association with AFHI.
In a bid for damage control and a public relations stunt, Mr Hughes offered his resignation as Chairman of the AFC. The AFC is reported to have rejected his resignation. Interestingly enough, a few days later, Sithe Global reported that it is pulling out of the Amaila Project. In fact, it boggles the mind as to why Mr Ramjattan would not accept the resignation of his main rival for leadership of the AFC, or is he not in control?
In similar vein, Mrs Cathy Hughes, wife of Mr Nigel Hughes and AFC Member of Parliament was the Public Relations Consultant for Sithe Global and Amaila Falls Hydropower Inc.
There are, therefore, lingering questions to be answered by the Hughes and for that matter the entire leadership of the AFC. Why did the AFC reject Mr Hughes resignation? After all Mr Hughes as Company Secretary of AFHI and his wife as Public Relations consultant must have been pretty sure that Sithe Global would pull out of the project if there was no parliamentary consensus. The AFC certainly knew that there would be no consensus since APNU had made its position clear. Did his colleagues in the leadership of the AFC know this when they rejected his resignation as party Chairman.
Do we need better examples of conflict of interest?
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
