Indirectly referencing Su Zhirong and the VICE News docu-series, President Irfaan Ali last night said that his government will be going after investors who utilize “middlemen” to conduct their businesses in Guyana.
He made the statement on the sidelines of a reception hosted by the High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana to commemorate Canada Day.
Over the past months, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has been at the centre of corruption allegations by Su. Su, a tenant and friend of Jagdeo, is said to be a middleman and would allegedly lobby the Vice President on behalf of Chinese investors and companies. He told VICE News’ Isobel Yeung, while she was undercover, that Jagdeo was his boss and “processing fees” had to be paid to him to gain access to lucrative contracts in Guyana.
Jagdeo has vehemently denied these allegations and continues to. He has threatened to sue Su, however, it is unclear if Su is still in the country.
Observers have been saying that there seems to be a network of persons like Su who would act as middlemen for investors seeking to set up shop here. These middlemen would set up links while drawing back hefty fees.
Last night, Ali told reporters that as the economy expands there will be an influx of investors along with persons claiming to have access to various officials and agents. It was on that note, that he sounded the warning.
“I am saying this very clearly, to the public, to investors, there is absolutely no need to go through any middleman. There is absolutely no need to engage any lobbyist. There is absolutely no need for anyone coming to you. And we will have to deal with the situation because if you engage middlemen and lobbyists who want to claim that they have more than what they have, then you are also accountable and liable because it means you are prepared to engage in something illegal.
“So I am warning and this is something I have asked the Attorney General to look at. I want him to look at how we can strengthen the laws to deal with these types of people, not only the people who operate like that but also the people who engage them. There is absolutely no need for that,” Ali said.
VICE News has released two video reports on the operations of Chinese businessmen in Guyana and their engagement in alleged corruption. Su was prominent in the first report titled ‘Guyana For Sale’ and examined the operations of Chinese businesses in the country and challenged Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo on government corruption.
According to the VICE News report, the trail to securing any agreement begins with the notorious ‘middlemen’ and goes all the way to Guyana’s Vice President, Jagdeo. Su advertised himself as the middleman with access to Jagdeo in both video reports.
VICE News engaged Su while Yeung was undercover with a fake potential investor ‘Mr Chan’. Su whose rented home is next door to Jagdeo’s in Pradoville 2, took the VICE News undercover `businessman’ Mr Chan to meet the Vice President.
According to VICE, the act was done to prove to the undercover potential Chinese businessman that “he (Su) has access at the highest level”.
Yeung said that Su is not the only person that tells them that the “service fee” middlemen like Su take for bribes are huge amounts, as they showed another interview with a man said to be the General Manager of one of China’s largest construction firms. “The middlemen play a crucial role. With just one word they can get something done,” the General Manager says in Mandarin.
“Not instructing”
Last week, VICE News released an extended version of the initial report. This new report showed footage of a Chinese national confessing to being a money launderer. President Ali said on Monday that it “should be investigated by security agencies”.
“What is clear, there are some people there who are saying they are involved in such activities… if you look at the video and that definitely requires an investigation… And I’m hoping… the relevant security and relevant agencies are looking at this because it is clear that someone says they are involved,” Ali had said.
Last night, Stabroek News again asked the President about whether an investigation was initiated to which he responded that he had already made a pronouncement on the matter and will not be revisiting it.
Pressed on whether he has asked the Commissioner of Police to launch a probe, Ali then said “I said when I looked at the second airing of it [the extended video] there was somebody who self-confessed that they are involved in money laundering that is what I said. I said that is a self-confession and for the security to look at and I support any investigation.
“I am not going to direct the Police Commissioner. I said there is a self-confession, that somebody there said they are involved in something illegal and any security force would want to investigate that. Don’t ask me to direct anyone. I am a president that would never get involved in directing anyone. I have a constitutional responsibility to this country and Guyana and the media and everyone can rest assured that this president is going to work within the construct and constraint of the Constitution of Guyana.”
