President David Granger says an accusation of corruption by transparency group TIGI against Minister of State Joseph Harmon and the government over the appointment of advisors is “outrageous” but he did not shed much light on the raging controversy sparked by the revelation that businessman Brian Tiwari had been enlisted to provide advice to his administration.
“It’s an outrageous statement. I can’t accept blanket criticism based on one incident,” Granger thundered in this week’s Public Interest television programme, which was recorded on Thursday and aired yesterday. After it was revealed that Harmon had stealthily appointed Tiwari, Granger’s office announced the rescinding of the hiring the next day, saying that Tiwari’s services were not needed. Ironically, both Harmon and Tiwari were in China at that point.
The President advised Transparency Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI) to seek an audience with the minister.
“I would ask TIGI to meet with Minister Harmon before going to the press. Verify the information before going to the press. Let them approach the Minister for an explanation,” the Head of State noted. However, Harmon has refused to provide details to the press over the last 10 days and so it is unclear why he would be more forthcoming with TIGI.
Asked to address a separate allegation, which arose after the Tiwari controversy, that Harmon interfered in the work of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) with respect to Chinese-owned logging company Baishanlin, Granger said he has had discussions with Minster of Finance Winston Jordan, under whose purview the GRA falls, and that there should not in future be an issue of any minister other than Jordan dealing with the GRA.
That statement appears to imply that there was interference with the GRA. Neither the government nor Harmon has denied that there was interference.
“From time to time errors occur—not that I am saying an error occurred in this case. But when something happens, there is an investigation and I would ask all non-governmental organisations to ask for information before going to the street or going to the press,” he stated.
Responding to questions on the programme, Granger said he is not prepared to make public the names of those persons who would’ve donated to the APNU+AFC 2015 elections campaign.
Asked to respond to a request made by TIGI in the wake of the Tiwari appointment that “the APNU+AFC Coalition disclose the identity of the donors pre- and post-elections 2015 and the amount and or value of their contributions,” the president said he would not do so.
“I am willing to comply with any law in relation to campaign contributions. It’s not dirty money but donors have asked to remain anonymous. People can be very vindictive, certain persons in political parties can be very vindictive. We have been requested to keep identities secret because persons are afraid they may be sanctioned, blacklisted or boycotted if it became known that they donated to the coalition. People don’t want to see their name printed in a schedule in the Sunday papers,” he said.
A story published in the March 31, 2016 Kaieteur News alleged that Harmon attempted to halt the seizure of two vehicles owned by Baishanlin which is under investigation for tax evasion. The seizure exercise was being conducted by the GRA in collaboration with the Special Organised Crime Unit.
The claim is that officials were preparing to execute the seizure when Harmon contacted them instructing that the vehicles not be removed and that the company be left alone. The seizure was eventually done on Tuesday.
To date Harmon has still not publicly addressed the issue, though he promised on Wednesday to issue a detailed press statement.
In defending the appointment Harmon is reported to have told Kaieteur News “we have issued several instruments like these to persons both from the APNU and the AFC side and you would notice that I have signed it for many persons who have helped us in the campaign and those who have the capacity to help us further.”
TIGI viewed this statement as a confirmation from the Minister of State that well-paying and prestigious jobs and other privileges were up for sale during the 2015 elections campaign in which the party stood on an anti-corruption and transparency platform and that since the election the government has been using its position to employ and reward, out of state resources, its supporters and donors.
This, according to TIGI, constitutes corruption both on the part of Minister Harmon and the government.
