Dear Editor,
My attention was drawn to an article carried in Kaieteur News, Tuesday, August 3, 2022 headed, “Coalition Govt. tied Guyana to $1.9B 10-year rental for UN offices.” I have extracted two paragraphs from the article, which are very disturbing and smearing of my character and good name. Please see extracts below:
Paragraph two of the article states, “It was in May 2019 when the lease was signed with Blue Wave Apartments Inc., an Eddy Grant-owned company. The property is located at 107-108 Duke Street Kingston, Georgetown and was rented to house the United Nations (UN) offices in one compound.”
Additionally, paragraph three of the article states, “the contract was signed by then Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson and then Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Annette Ferguson.”
Editor, I wish to state for the public record and to make it crystal clear that:
a. I was nowhere near the Ministry of Public Infrastructure in the month of May 2019.
b. I never saw nor signed any contract between the Government of Guyana and Blue Wave Apartments Inc. This would have been impossible, since I was reassigned Minister within the Ministry of Communities, with responsibility for Housing on April 26, 2019.
Therefore, I call on the Publisher of Kaieteur News to retract this article and offer a public apology. Failure to do so, I will proceed to take legal action.
All for your information.
Yours in service,
Annette Ferguson
Member of Parliament –
APNU+AFC