Culture Ministry not to be blamed for unused $35M

Culture Ministry not to be blamed for unused $35M – GIRTV

Feb 20, 2014 News

The Board of Directors of the Guyana Inter-Religious Television Incorporated (GIRTV) is defending the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport as it relates to the $35M for which the Ministry came under scrutiny by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Earlier this month, during a Committee meeting, the Culture Ministry was asked to return the money to the Consolidated Fund from which it was taken and not used for the intended purpose of setting up a religious television station.
Permanent Secretary, Alfred King, who represented the Ministry at the

(From left) Ronald Mc Garrel, Mansoor Baksh and Wendell Jeffrey

PAC meeting, was challenged to give clarifications on why the monies were not used. However, the Committee members were not satisfied with the answers provided, and therefore ordered that the $35M be taken out of the Ministry’s account and returned to the Consolidated Fund.
Meanwhile, GIRTV’s Vice Chairman- Ronald Mc Garrel and Secretary, Mansoor Baksh during an interview with Kaieteur News yesterday, asserted that the Culture Ministry is not at fault.
The two men maintained that ever since it became incorporated in 2012, GIRTV has had many interactions with subject Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, who was very instrumental in advising the body how to go about the procedures required for setting up a television station.
“He explained to us that the Ministry has the money, but we would have to follow certain procedures to access the funds,” Baksh said.
Mc Garrel pointed out that one of the requirements was the submission of plans as to how the money was going to be spent.
He said that for a number of reasons, the Board of Directors for the GIRTV were unable to meet the obligation as outlined by Minister Anthony.
It is to this end that the GIRTV members believe that the pressure encountered by the Culture Ministry for holding the money, was not the fault of either the Minister or the Permanent Secretary.
“It was because of the short comings of the organization. We are at fault for not withdrawing this money in a timely manner and we do apologize for the inconveniences caused,” Mc Garrel said.
He maintained that the GIRTV is not becoming involved in political matters, but “it was important for us to explain the situation and not have someone else be blamed for something that is our fault.”
During the PAC meeting, Chairman, Carl Greenidge had said that keeping the money under the Ministry of Culture’s account was a breach of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, and that a resolution should be provided.
Committee member, Bibi Shadick had also asked why the Ministry was still holding on to the $35M, but a satisfactory answer was not given, and Greenidge ordered that the money be returned to the Consolidated Fund from which it was taken.
In 2005, then President Bharrat Jagdeo awarded the Inter-Religious Organization (IRO), a sum of $35M, for the purpose of setting up a television channel intended to broadcast solely religious programmes.
According to Baksh, the various religions found in Guyana are equally represented on the Board of Directors of the GIRTV. This includes Islam, Hinduism, Christianity and Rastafarian.
The organization’s, Public Relations Officer (ag), Pastor Wendell Jeffrey told this newspaper that “the model proposed would see an equitable distribution of air time amongst the various religious bodies for the broadcasting of their programmes.”
Jeffrey, Mc Garrel and Baksh have expressed appreciation to the Government for the allocation of funds, noting that the GIRTV remains committed towards the fulfillment of the proposed project.