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Private money for government projects is unlawful

Jun 13, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
Since the publication of my weekly article about two APNU+AFC Govt. events in the US over the weekend, I received some valuable information which I feel compelled to share with the public. The entertainment place where a certain New York event was held is owned by a certain man and a certain woman. I am informed that this establishment is a regular meeting place for members of this Government.
The owner is a known AFC financier, was the supplier of the controversial $420M product deal last year. Some years ago, the Guyana Police Force had issued “wanted bulletins” for this certain woman and her mother, Yvonne Webster, in respect of allegations of fraud. These bulletins with their photographs were posted on the walls of police stations nationwide. Both fled the country as a result. Since the change in government, these two persons have been seen regularly at the Marriott Hotel, at the National Stadium during cricket and at various other places in the City in the company of top officials of this Government.
In fact, I am informed that this certain woman holds herself out as a lobbyist for this Government for investment opportunities. I hope that the Guyana Police Force will inform this nation about the status of the investigations in relation this woman and Yvonne Webster and in so doing, will apprise the nation of the reasons why she is no longer considered a fugitive of justice.
Before, I close, I wish to reply to a letter written by Wesley Kirton in response to my article. Mr. Kirton wrote only in relation to the event in Florida. Mr. Kirton objects to my description of the document inviting people to this event as a “flier”. He prefers the label “invitation”. Quite frankly, this is a distinction without a difference. Significantly, the document charges an admission fee of a minimum of US $35. My interpretation is that any member of the public who pays that admission fee would be admitted into the event. That fact, coupled with the event being described as a “Town Hall Meeting and Reception”, in my view, ought to settle the issue as to whether the event was a private or a public one.
Mr. Kirton informs us that one way tickets from Guyana to Miami were paid for, for the two ministers, by the person who extended the invitation. No mention is made of who is responsible for the other associated expenditures.
Mr. Kirton refers to an event which I attended in Florida when I was Attorney General to mark Guyana’s Independence Anniversary. I was accompanied by my wife. Mr. Kirton raised the issue of who financed that trip. I was on official business representing Guyana at an Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism meeting in Miami. As I was there, I was invited to speak at the event to which Mr. Kirton refers. Whenever I travelled on official business and my wife accompanied me, I paid for all expenses in relation to her. Coincidentally, I am informed that when Ministers of this Government travel with their spouses, the State pays all expenses for the both of them.
Mr. Kirton confirms that all cheques were required to be made payable to the account of “APNU GUYANA INC.” He also confirms that the proceeds are for the President’s Five Bs Program – a programme of the Government of Guyana and not a Party programme of the APNU.
It ought to be common knowledge that the Laws and the Constitution of Guyana mandate all Government programmes to be funded by monies appropriated via the National Assembly from the Consolidated Fund. Hence the Constitutional requirement that all monies received by Guyana shall be paid into and form one Consolidated Fund. In short, monies that are raised at a private event for the purpose of funding Government projects are unlawful and extra-Constitutional.
Mohabir Anil Nandlall MP
Attorney-at -Law

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