AFC demands Public Procurement Commission, revocation of radio licences

Jun 02, 2013 News

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…at meeting with President on political deadlock

One day after meeting with representatives of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to stave off a brewing political crisis, President Donald Ramotar on Thursday met with leaders of the Alliance For Change (AFC) with the latter demanding that the administration take a hands-off approach on government contracts.

There are indications now that Government may be willing to make a few concessions to the Opposition.
While there was no official word from Government on the talks which would centre on the budget cuts earlier this year and the stalemate over the non-passage of critical legislation in the National Assembly, the AFC yesterday outlined several demands it made during Thursday’s meeting with the President, who was accompanied by his Chief Advisor, Dr. Roger Luncheon, and Political Advisor, Gail Teixeira.
APNU, in its statement, did not go into details.
AFC’s Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan was head of the team from his party that included General Secretary David Patterson and Treasurer Dominic Gaskin.
According to the AFC, President Ramotar wanted a “direct communication line with the leaders of political parties so as to express his views on the major political and economic matters of concern, and also to hear very directly the views of the political parties on these issues.”
The AFC said it made it clear that the party, which controls seven seats in the National Assembly, did not want this new development to become a talk-shop with an excess of political chatter.
On the issue of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), which would oversee government contracts, the AFC did not agree with the President’s stance that the administration’s Cabinet should maintain its no-objection role in the tender process.

 

NO CABINET INVOLVEMENT
“The AFC maintained our position that there should be no Cabinet involvement in the tender process, that the PPC must be established under the existing legal framework.”
The Commission, despite legislation for a number of years now, has not been established and the Opposition has been blaming its absence for perceptions of corruption in the procurement process of public contracts.
“It was finally agreed that Dr. Luncheon would put their (Government) arguments in writing to which we could then respond in writing with a view to narrowing down precisely where we differ. The positions will then be made public.”
On the issue of the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN), the AFC said it wants the company to operate along the lines of the BBC, the well-known British-owned news outfit that is independent. The AFC said it did not buy the President’s argument that “the bias” on the part of some of the private media was justification for the bias displayed, in Government’s favour, by NCN.
”Our team argued the case that NCN should be run on lines like the BBC. He requested that AFC write to them on what AFC wants, which we will do.”
The Opposition party said that the National Insurance Scheme was also discussed. According to Dr. Luncheon, the fund, which is a main source of pension for Guyanese, has come under fire from the Opposition.
“The President wants an AFC financial nominee to the NIS Board. AFC asked how early will the Board members be removed and recommended that the entire board of NIS be replaced.”

However, Government is adamant that Dr. Luncheon will remain as Chairman, with new members assisting the board. A key document on NIS’ state of affairs will now be shared with the party.

 

Revoke radio licences
With regards to the controversial issuance of radio licences by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, the AFC said that the President ”avoided discussion on whether or not Jagdeo acted in bad faith”.
Rather, the Head of State blamed the Leader of the Opposition, saying that the delay in naming a nominee to the Guyana National Broadcast Authority essentially prevented the early commencement of the new Broadcast Act of 2011.
Eleven radio licences were controversially granted by Jagdeo in 2011, days before he left office, sparking widespread anger and a number of court cases. Most of the licences and a majority of the frequencies went mainly to close party supporters, giving the administration total control over the airwaves. Several private media houses were overlooked and the matter has been criticised by the diplomatic community and local and international media groups.
The AFC said that it made it clear that it wants a “clean-slate start, with the revocation of the grants made in 2011 and a reversion of these by the NFMU (National Frequency Monitoring Unit. Everybody should apply fresh to a new Broadcast Authority.
With regards to the $5B budget cuts to GPL’s subsidy earlier this year, the Opposition party said it pointed out that the real cost of fuel this year has reduced by eight per cent than the anticipated costs, due to a fall of world oil prices. This meant that GPL will have additional monies.
“AFC made it clear that the GPL Board be sacked. More monies will be saved almost instantaneously.”

 

No Amaila $$$ until…
On the Amaila Falls project, the AFC said it will not be restoring almost $20B, representing Guyana’s stake in the 165-megawatts project that was slashed off the National Budget this year. The “AFC team assured him (President Ramotar) that AFC will support this once the IDB due diligence approves the project.  The President mentioned that lack of approval might send the wrong signal to IDB.  We begged to disagree.”
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is currently carrying out its financial due diligence on this and there is worry that a deadline for financial closure may not be met. Guyana could end up paying millions in penalties to the Chinese contractor and the hydro power developer if financial closure is not met in time.
The AFC said it was advised that Government is unable to force the Berbice River Bridge to lower its tolls since it is a private company. Rather, the Opposition party was urged to make representations to the company directly.
Meanwhile, the sore issue of the non-assent by the President on two Opposition-tabled bills was also discussed.
“The President was adamant he would not give his assent to these bills as they are unconstitutional.”
The AFC said it made it clear that it will not back a critical Government Bill on new anti-money laundering legislation before a November deadline, unless he assents to the two from the Opposition.
“We indicated that he should assent and let his litigious AG (Attorney General) take it to Court for that body to pronounce on the unconstitutionality of the Act.”
On the appointment of the Chancellor of the Judiciary, the AFC said that the President does not want to advertise for the position, which is being asked for by the Leader of the Opposition. “He asked the AFC for its thoughts which were given.”
The AFC said the meeting was cordial and discussions were indeed “very frank”.
The Ramotar administration has been facing an uphill battle in the National Assembly after the ruling party lost its majority voting power by one seat. The Opposition gained more control, electing Raphael Trotman, the House Speaker from the AFC.
In addition to two consecutive cuts to the National Budget, starting last year, the Opposition has been tabling motions and asking questions with an aim to tighten spending and reduce what it sees as widespread corruption on government contracts.

 

 

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