APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon yesterday defended a trip he took to Jamaica financed by Chinese contractor, CHEC to inspect their projects.
Harmon in a statement said that notwithstanding his visit to inspect the China Harbour and Engineering Corporation (CHEC) projects, he had maintained his criticism of the Guyana Government’s handling of the expansion project for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri for which CHEC is the contractor.
Harmon was responding to a PPP/C advertisement in yesterday’s Stabroek News which described key APNU+AFC leaders as hypocrites for accepting benefits from projects which they have criticized.
The ad said that Harmon had “enjoyed the perks of an all expense paid trip to Jamaica, at the expense of the project contractor”, CHEC.
“It is true that after my criticism of the contractor China Harbour Inc., of the execution of the contract for the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, the company invited me to visit several public infrastructural projects they were undertaking in Jamaica. With the blessings of the Ministry of Public Works in Jamaica, I visited and inspected the work done by China Harbour Inc., on these projects in Jamaica. While the work done by China Harbour Inc. in Jamaica was of good quality, I maintain my criticism as I do up to now that the Government of Guyana’s handling of the CJIA Expansion Project was not transparent and that value for money was seriously in doubt”, Harmon stated. Harmon in turn stated that former President Bharrat Jagdeo who had brought the company to Guyana must now say what financial consideration, if any, he and his advisor received out of the contract sum up front for the airport.
Harmon said that there appeared to have been a falling out by Jagdeo with CHEC as a contract for a section of the East Coast highway which was to be awarded last year to CHEC was steered to another Chinese company. Jagdeo was reported to be the person who had influenced the final decision to award the contract not to CHEC but to China Railway First Group.
Harmon yesterday declared that Jagdeo should never again be given the opportunity by the Guyanese people to serve in any public office which represents their interest.
