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Chairman’s position does not require contact with investors
-interfacing with clients mandate of GM, other execs
Following the outrage generated by revelations that Chairman of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission
GGMC Chairman Clinton Williams
(GGMC), Clinton Williams, spent $4M on food and drinks in 18 months, a release from the GGMC justified the expenditure by stating that the bills were “necessary” because he interfaced with internal and external stakeholders.
However, the Chairmen of several Government entities have pointed out that meeting with potential investors was not one of their regular duties.
Chairman of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Claude Housty, said that he and his board of directors are just engaged in policy-making activities. He explained that his board advises and recommends actions to the Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder.
On the other hand, he pointed out that executive authority rests with the General Manager, at present Nizam Hassan. However, Housty stated that if necessary, he could have those meetings with investors.
Chairman of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Dr. Maurice Odle, said that he does not interface with clients, but handles policy matters. He made it clear that the ones who deal with the day-to-day management of NICIL would be responsible for such matters.
Former Chairman of the Guyana Gold Board, Dr. Gobind Ganga, said that while the question of the Chairman interfacing with investors depends on the circumstances, he noted that in normal cases, it is the board that makes policy decisions.
Last week, documents were made public detailing how almost $4M in entertainment expenses was spent over an 18-month period by Williams, since taking up his position at the Guyana Geology and Mines
Former Gold Board Chairman, Dr. Gobind Ganga
Commission (GGMC) last year.
According to figures detailing the expenses between January 2014 and up to just before the elections in May 2015, he spent $3,984,948 in three restaurants – Silhouette Restaurant (JR Enterprise) in Kitty; 704 Sports Bar on Lamaha Street, Alberttown, and Brasil Churrascari and Pizzaria, Alexander Street, Lacytown.
The figures are raising eyebrows. For example, in February last year, over $650,000 was spent on meals and beverages at the 704 Sports Bar. There was no explanation.
Earlier in 2014, some investors from Trinidad met at Silhouette. The bill came up to $311,163. It appeared that the then Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud, was present at the meeting, according to the details.
In May 2014, over $100,000 was spent in dinner alone. There was a buffet dinner at Silhouette in October for $568,397. That same month, another one was held with the bill amounting to $420,297.
None of the Silhouette Restaurant bills were below $15,000.
The entertainment expenses last year alone charged to GGMC was $3,142,862.
This year, just before the elections, more than $840,000 was spent on food and drinks.
In April, meals supplied for a particular occasion was almost $200,000 with more than $100,000 spent for dinner one day in February.
GGMC is already under fire for its management of the country’s mining and other natural resources, excluding forestry.
A number of reports had pointed fingers at possible wrongdoing, staff shortages and discrimination with miners and lands.
Miners themselves have been complaining about GGMC’s monitoring of the mining camps.
Williams had ordered an investigation and led a vote of no confidence against the GGMC Commissioner, Rickford Vieira, and others.
Vieira, according to a source in the GGMC, had sought to restrict the spending by Williams. This happened after the elections which led to a change in the administration. Vieira is currently on administrative leave.
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