Head of the Guyana National Council on Public Policy Dr Phillip Mozart Thomas, who owes a large debt to Massy Security Guyana Inc, has criticised the company for publishing notices in the daily newspapers asking him to make urgent contact.
An official of the company would only say that Thomas owes a “large sum of money.”
However, Thomas told Stabroek News on Wednesday that he spoke with the company after seeing the ads and said that he was surprised that it would take such an approach since it had all his contact information.
He informed that the company provided security at his home and office, although he claimed that the service was below the standard expected.
Thomas, who stressed that he was “a public figure,” said that he had expected Stabroek News to operate differently with respect to its publication of the ads. He said when he spoke to the company, he made clear his belief that the ads were placed to shame him and it has since assured him that the publication would stop.
He said that Massy has deliberately tried to embarrass him and this has resulted in him receiving thousands of telephone calls.
He informed that his lawyers will be sending the company an official letter.
Massy is not the only entity that Thomas owes. In 2014, a $4M cheque tendered to pay for the use of the Guyana International Conference Centre (later renamed Arthur Chung Convention Centre) at Liliendaal for a civil society summit, bounced. He also owes Stabroek News’ advertising department money for ads published in 2014.
With respect to the Conference Centre, Thomas said that he could not discuss that matter because it is presently engaging the attention of the court.
Thomas, who had also been a contestant for a seat on the Mayor and City Council at March’s local government elections, said all questions should be directed to his lawyers. One of his lawyers, Glenn Hanoman, however, stated that he could not make a pronouncement on the matter at this time.
The summit, which was expected to see civil society in conversation about a change in the constitution, was described by critics as a failure after the invited members of the National Assembly did not turn up at the meeting. The Council was also forced to relocate the summit from the centre because of sudden maintenance problems.
Thomas on Wednesday also acknowledged that he does owe this newspaper but said that this was tied to the matter before the court.
He said that the debt is one of 504 debts listed in the matter currently engaging the court’s attention.
In an invited comment, Manager of Stabroek News’ Advertising Department Patricia Cumbermack said Thomas owes $271, 272 for two ads placed on December 12, 2014. She said that the ads were emailed to the company and that he had indicated that the invoice should be sent to him and payment would follow.
However, Cumbermack added that repeated efforts to collect the money were met with a series of excuses. In April last year, the company wrote Thomas over the matter but no payment was made.
Cumbermack said that she last spoke with him three months ago and he assured that payment would be made as he was about to receive some funds.
