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Plainly Speaking – Let us give Sithe the BOOT

Introduction
It is a measure of the public’s concern about it that news stories on the Amaila Hydroelectric Project overshadowed the goings on in the National Assembly. A consequence of the parliamentary contretemps is that the four Local Government Bills which, according to at least two of the parliamentary parties, would facilitate local government elections have been shelved. While it would be desirable for those Bills to be passed, I do not think there is any excuse for there to be no local government elections for another full year (2013). Let us use the existing legislation and give to citizens their constitutional right to choose their representatives in such elections. I am hoping that on the next occasion on which the Minister of Local Government brings a Local Government (Elections) (Amendment) Bill that one of the very attorneys in the National Assembly or indeed a citizen of Guyana will challenge the Bill for unconstitutionality. We cannot call this country a democracy and yet violate the Constitution with impunity. I believe however that measured by the yardstick of urgency and media coverage, the developments this week on Amaila take priority.
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Amaila Falls Hydroelectricity Project, terrorism and funeral

Plainly Business continues my writing on accounting, finance and economic issues previously appearing as Business Page in the Sunday Stabroek. Readers’ comments and discussions are welcome.

Introduction
President Donald Ramotar’s description of the rejection by the parliamentary opposition of a bill and motion dealing with the Amaila Falls Hydroelectricity Project as an act of terrorism is serious stuff indeed. It makes the earlier statement by Prime Minister Sam Hinds about the vote being the funeral of the project seem modest if not jocular by comparison. President Ramotar’s anger is understandable. His exaggerated description of the rejection and his incredible claim that Amaila will save us G$40 billion per year are not. The matters have to be placed in the context of the events in the National Assembly that evening but which are not entirely appropriate to this column.

President Ramotar’s administration inherited and pursued the prestige projects conceived by former President Jagdeo with evangelical enthusiasm. Jagdeo conjured up the Kingston Casino and Hotel Project and everyone followed him. He dreamt about the Airport Runway Extension and Expansion Project and no one questioned or cautioned him, about need, concept or cost. Someone must have told him about health tourism and he decided on a specialty hospital – no explanations sought or offered. But Amaila stands out as the big project; one that Jagdeo might still hope will cause the name Jagdeo to live in perpetuity, not for Pradoville 2 but for vision, not for corruption but for grandeur. Nothing is wrong with having vision and even grandeur, if they take into account that schools are failing and medical services are still Third World-ish.
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Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation racks up heavy losses; questions about where the income goes: Revisit this project please – Conclusion

Note to Readers
Over the past month I have been engaged with the editorial management on the Stabroek News over an apology they offered to Mr Ron Webster in connection with his controlling share acquisition in Caribbean Containers Inc, a company of which he has at all material times been Chief Executive Officer. It is my considered opinion that such share dealings are inconsistent with the principles of law and good governance which Business Page has set out to promote.

As a result of our failure to resolve that matter, I no longer consider it possible for me to continue as a contributor to that column.

I thank all the readers of the column for their consistent and critical support over the years and promise that I will continue to advocate good governance in Guyana. A special thank you too to Ms Anna Benjamin, the Sunday Editor and to Mr Anand Persaud, the Editor-in-Chief.

Introduction
In this series I sought to expose the improprieties and the violations of the law and the constitution perpetrated on this country by the Government of Guyana and the directors of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation. Maybe it was coincidental but it was only after I drew the attention of Mr Ramesh Dookhoo, Chairman of the CJIA Board, to the requirement for the tabling in the National Assembly of the annual accounts and reports of the corporation that audited financial statements were laid. However, the relevant Minister is yet to table a single annual report for any of the nine years of CJIA’s existence. Part 1 of this series also noted that these audited accounts gave no indication that they were approved by the Board and the date on which that was done. These were signed by the CEO and another employee.

The column also challenged the procedure for the accounting and spending of moneys by the corporation. It quoted from the notes to the financial statements which revealed that “all revenue earned and collected from aeronautical services is transferred to the Ministry of Public Works. CJIA Corporation is financed by 37.5% of every departure.” In one year it referred to “departing passenger” while in another it referred to “departure ticket and a subvention.” That is so outside of the framework of the law that it boggles the mind that any auditor, however untrained, would allow such a policy and practice without a complete disclaimer on those accounts. Our Auditor General’s Office appears to have no such concerns and so Minister Benn and the Board of Directors of the Corporation continue in their merry and lawless ways.
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