Cathy Hughes’ affiliation with Synergy Holding no conflict of interest

Dec 06, 2010 News

…will be asked to recuse self if AFC wins Govt. – Ramjattan

The fact that a Central Executive Member of the Alliance for Change, Cathy Hughes has used her Public Relations company to work for controversial contractor Makeshwar ‘Fip’ Motilall does not represent a conflict of interest.

Central Executive Member of the AFC Cathy Hughes making a speech during the party’s last campaign

This is according to party Chairman and Presidential Candidate, Khemraj Ramjattan who said that he would not deny any company a chance to earn income.
He said that should the party assume power following the 2011 elections, then upon review of the contract, Hughes will be asked to recuse herself from any affiliation with the company, Synergy Holdings.
Ramjattan said that this is the policy of the party, pointing out that on many occasions when a decision has to be made and the person with an interest in the outcome is on the decision making panel, they recuse themselves.
He pointed to the recent Congress of the party where he was asked to pass judgment on whether Michael Carrington would be able to compete for the presidential candidate slot, he recused himself.
He said that this has happened on many occasions in the party when the need arises.
Ramjattan said that Hughes had a right to deal with Motilall and his Company, saying that it is no contradiction.
He said that the duality of persons in the party must be respected.
Motilall says his company is the most qualified to build the Amaila access road because it has over seven years of road building experience along with intimate knowledge of the terrain at the project site.

Makeshwar ‘Fip’ Motilall

AFC’s Presidential Candidate and Party Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan

He made the statements during his interview with Hughes but this position has never been qualified with any evidence.
Efforts to contact Hughes yesterday for a comment proved futile.
There is public position that the AFC should make a decision of how it will approach this issue of conflict between party and profession.
“It is an important one on which the AFC can provide leadership, and which would allow it to speak with greater credibility on a controversial economic deal which the party may have to revisit if it ever wins political power,” posited a columnist in this newspaper.