Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Friday indicated that he will say no more on his controversial March trip to China as he believes that a detailed report issued about the trip and explanations by government and state holding company NICIL, have clarified the issues.
“There is nothing more to be said about it. It is already there,” Harmon said when questioned by Stabroek News at the end of his post-Cabinet press briefing.
The minister’s conduct in China came under scrutiny following the publication of a photograph in the Kaieteur News in April, of him posing with several representatives of the controversial logging company Baishanlin.
The Ministry of the Presidency has said that Harmon’s trip to China was for the purpose of engaging in discussions with regard to the payment of the outstanding balance owed to the government for the purchase of 20% of Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company shares by Chinese company Datang Telecom Techno-logy and Industry Group from NICIL in 2012. This deal was entered into by the PPP/C administration but only US$25 million of the agreed US$30 million was known to have been paid. Months into an ongoing controversy surrounding the outstanding US$5 million, the public is yet to be told who has the money.
Present on the trip with Harmon was Chief Executive Officer of BK International Brian Tiwarie and APNU member Larry London, whose purpose on the trip has raised questions. It was subsequently disclosed that Harmon had appointed Tiwarie as a business advisor but this did not meet the approval of President David Granger who revoked the appointment.
On Friday, Harmon asserted that all issues regarding the trip have been dealt with and he has nothing to add. “You have seen the chairman of NICIL, I believe he has made a statement on the matter which really should put the matter to rest,” he said.
“I said to you, what I said to the press was that I was undertaking this mission for NICIL as a member of the Board. I supplied a report on my visit to the board of NICIL and the board of NICIL will make a report at the appropriate time. Dr Odle, the Chairman of that Board, has actually put the information in the public domain,” he added.
When it was pointed out that the NICIL statement did not explain Tiwarie’s presence on the China trip, Harmon said the matter was separate but was also addressed.
“Well that had nothing to do with the NICIL thing. Tiwarie matter is a different matter. All of these matters have been put in the public domain and I believe that there is nothing more to be said,” he declared.
Granger has publicly expressed satisfaction with Harmon’s conduct in China and said that their longstanding friendship did not cloud his views on the matter. “Yes, I am satisfied that the conduct of the minister was above board and that the Cabinet and the public have been informed,” the President had said during one of his Public Interest recordings.
