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Using the IDB for the PPP’s narrow, political agenda

Apr 12, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
Permit me to refer to James Conellius’ letter of March 16th 2016 captioned “IDB should investigate Guyana office” and Carl Lucas letter of March 21, 2016 captioned “Apparent lack of transparency IDB procurement for forensic auditors.
It would appear that both of these writers in their coordinated approach to attack the largest development contributor to Guyana, do not understand the role of the IDB in member countries or one is left to conclude that a sinister political ploy is at play.  To begin, Mr. Conellius should know that development agencies like the IDB cannot and do not make hiring decisions for and on behalf of the Government of Guyana. The IDB’s responsibility is to ensure transparent processes for the funds it manages in keeping with its rules and procedures set out by its Board which includes Guyana. Second, Mr. Conellius should take the effort to visit the IDB web site to familiarize himself with the IDB procurement policies.
Since staff of the Office of Climate Change (OCC) are employed by and work for the Government of Guyana and not the IDB, it would be Mr. Conellius responsibility to approach the Government of Guyana for the information he seeks.  Further, the Minister of Finance is the Governor of the IDB at the level of the Board and Mr. Conellius should seek that information from the Minister of Finance who represents Mr. Conellius interest as a Guyanese at the level of the Board. Of interest, it would be helpful if Mr. Conellius could point us to the advertisement for the recruitment of the previous Heads of the OCC, Mr. Cham Nokta or Kapil Mohabir under the PPP/C administration and what procurement methods allowed Mr. Cham Nokta’s consultancy firm to bid for IDB GRIF consultancies while he was the Head of the OCC implementing GRIF projects. To the IDB’s credit, Mr. Nokta was restricted from biding for IDB projects as it represented a clear conflict of interest, a concept which was alien to the PPP/C.
Mr. Lucas on the other hand should take the time to consult with the Parliamentary library since all the information he seeks about the forensic audits were presented in full to the parliament by the Minister of Finance. It is ironic that Mr. Lucas would say the PPP highlighted the lack of transparency on these audits when it was the PPP that sought answers in the parliament, and to the Government’s credit provided details to the people of Guyana on the all the audits.  Mr. Lucas, like Mr. Conellius calls for the IDB’s board to investigate and one is left to conclude that both of these gentlemen are playing a PPP orchestrated political game to embarrass the Granger Government or attack the IDB. It is commendable that the APNU+AFC government has raised the level of transparency and access to information, other concepts which were alien to the PPP/C.
Finally, I expect that the Minister of Finance as Guyana’s Governor on the IDB Board will not allow the PPP to use the IDB for its own sinister political ploys at the expense of Guyana’s relationship with the IDB Guyana office and team.
Onika Smith-Narine

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