President David Granger last evening declined to respond to businessman Brian Tiwarie who accused him of acting “impulsively” in rescinding his appointment as ministerial advisor on business
development. “I won’t respond to Mr Tiwarie and Mr Tiwarie doesn’t determine my policy,” Granger told reporters. Tiwarie has suggested that in the interest of fairness, the President should revoke appointments made by other ministers including Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.
The disclosure two weeks ago of Harmon’s appointment of Tiwarie as an advisor triggered an avalanche of criticism and further disclosures which left the APNU+AFC administration groping for answers. Within a day, Granger rescinded Tiwarie’s appointment saying that his services were not needed. When Granger cancelled Tiwarie’s appointment, both Harmon and Tiwarie were in China.
Tiwarie defended Harmon and his appointment yesterday and charged that other ministers including Nagamootoo have made several such appointments and as it relates to those, there is an absence of a sustained campaign and public outcry.
“Maybe in the interest of fairness the President should revoke all of those too and for the very reason given when he acted impulsively in revoking the appointment at a time when Minister Harmon was out of the country. It may well be that in quieter time the President may have an opportunity to reflect upon the propriety of impulsive decision making,” he said.
Meantime, Granger denied any knowledge of the APNU receiving $100 million in campaign donations from Tiwarie. “I don’t know about. I don’t know about any $100 million” from Tiwarie or any other source, he said.
However, he acknowledged that government has received a lot of support from the business community, including for the 5 ‘B’s’ initiative, which aims to provide transportation, among other services for schoolchildren. The President said that government has received many gifts from the business community for the initiative but he is not aware that they have asked for any quid pro quo.
Meanwhile, the president rejected reports that his administration was seeking to purchase a plane from China. “I have not sought a plane from China,” he said noting that the Guyana Defence Force already has a plane. “I have not asked the Chinese for any plane and I am not negotiating for a plane from China,” he asserted.
