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My trip to China not connected to Harmon’s- Clinton Williams
-Two-yr-old US$4.3M container scanner goes down
Private sector executive, Clinton Williams, yesterday insisted that there was no connection with his recent
Clinton Williams
trip to China to that of Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.
Williams, a past Chairman of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), has a close relationship with Chinese companies and representing a number of them.
The China trip sparked controversy recently after it became known that businessman, Brian Tiwarie, had accompanied Minister Harmon. Tiwarie was appointed as Ministerial Advisor on Business Development in January.
Tiwarie had close ties to the former administration of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) but following the coalition’s victory last May in the General Elections, had been working with them on a number of projects, including the beautification of Brickdam and Durban Park.
However, his appointment sparked condemnation from supporters of the coalition.
The appointment was rescinded by President David Granger last week, hours after it was reported by Kaieteur News.
Tiwarie was in China, at the same time as Harmon, when the appointment was rescinded.
Yesterday, Williams insisted that he went to China before Minister Harmon and left after him.
There was no “nexus” to the Minister’s trip and his, Williams said.
He said that the trip was paid for by “The Principal”- NUCTECH- the company which he visited in China to talk about the acquisition of a fixed container scanner.
He said that there was a fixed one at Guyana National Shipping Corporation wharf.
This US$4.3M mobile scanner is not working properly. Government is moving to acquire another one from the same Chinese company.
Another one, a mobile scanner that was commissioned in 2014 at a cost of US$4.3M, has not been working.
The decision was taken to acquire a fixed one, with senior officials from the Guyana Revenue Authority accompanying Williams on the China’s trip.
Williams said the China discussions with NUCTECH were “favourable” with a new scanner on the cards. This one would be fixed as opposed to the mobile scanner that operated.
International regulations have been placing pressure for governments around the world to tighten up checks and security on wharves.
It will be recalled that it was only in 2014, that the PPP/C government commissioned the new US$4.3M vehicular mobile scanner which was granted to the Government of Guyana by the Chinese.
It was provided by the same firm, NUCTECH.
It was said to be the most modern scanner available on the market since it uses the latest technology in x-ray imaging.
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