The city constabulary has begun investigations into the whereabouts of $8 million gifted to the Global Friendships Foundation from the Chinese Embassy to aid in the restoration and enhancement of George-town.
Mayor Patricia Chase-Green yesterday confirmed to Stabroek News that they are questioning a past employee on his knowledge of the money. The mayor told Stabroek News that she received a letter from the constabulary department informing her of the investigation yesterday morning. She said she could not divulge any information on the status of the investigation as she had not been given any new information from the chief constable who is conducting the probe.
The investigation is being carried out by the city in an effort to clear itself after China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Zhang Limin enquired how the money was spent during a courtesy call on the mayor last week.
Town Clerk Royston King, on behalf of the city, has denied any knowledge of funds. He had told Stabroek News that no money from the donation had been handed over to the city council.
Last November, based on a statement from the Global Friendships Foundation, Stabroek News had reported that China had donated US$40,000 to the Foundation to aid in the restoration and enhancement of Georgetown. The statement had said that Ambassador Limin had presented the $8 million cheque to Chairman of the Global Friendships Foundation, then Mayor Hamilton Green.
Efforts to contact Green yesterday were futile.
The statement had said that Global Friendships Foundation is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) and has as its mission the promotion of cultural understanding and stimulating economic development. It had said that the NGO has also undertaken the implementation of beautification projects and has collaborated with embassies located in and assigned to Georgetown in the furtherance of its mission.
The endowment received from China, the release had said, was intended for use in projects such as: street lighting upgrades, streetscape enhancement and parks and recreational areas improvement.
