What are the emoluments of the current Chief Executive Officer of WITH GUYSUCO?

Dec 05, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

Reference to my letter published on Tuesday, December 3, 2024; where several issues were highlighted regarding the functioning of the twelfth Parliament of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, including Minister Zulfikar Mustapha’s refusal to provide responses to questions posed by me on salary and benefits of the new Chief Executive Officer of WITH GUYSUCO, Mr. Paul Cheong, during consideration of Financial Papers 1 and 2 of 2024, on August 9, 2024.

My attention was drawn to a letter published in your column, dated Wednesday, December 4, 2024; by Mr. Yannick December, Public Relations Officer at the Parliament Office, where he stated, “said information was disseminated to all Members of the Opposition, including Ms. Ferguson, via both hard and soft copies on November 13, 2024.”

I have reviewed all documents received from the Parliament Office and recognized that responses to several questions (by myself and colleagues) were submitted by Minister Zulfikar Mustapha. However, for transparency and being a responsible individual, I will share extract submitted by Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, which is not a reflection of the questions put to him on August 9, 2024.

Question: ‘The emoluments of the current Chief Executive Officer of WITH GUYSUCO.’

Response: ‘The current CEO of WITH GUYSUCO receives $1.8M per month as against the former CEO under APNU who received $2M per month’

The fact remains, Minister Zulfikar Mustapha FAILED to provide adequate responses to my questions and should provide publicly a breakdown of what constitutes ‘emoluments,’ of $1.8M per month, enjoyed by the current Chief Executive Officer of WITH GUYSUCO, Mr. Paul Cheong.

On taking office in August 2020, Mr. Sasenarine Singh, who was unqualified and unfit to hold the portfolio as ‘Chief Executive Officer’ of WITH GUYSUCO, was placed to act from September 14, 2020, and his tenure ended sometime in April of 2024.

Mr. Paul Cheong was appointed (not acting) by President Ifraan Ali sometime in May of 2024. Therefore, it is necessary for the public to know what former Chief Executive Officer (acting), Mr. Sasenarine Singh was earning, as salary and benefits (allowances) and what the new substantive Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Paul Cheong is receiving, as salary and benefits (allowances). Additionally, it will be of interest to the people of Guyana, to know what the qualifications of Mr. Cheong are; as against his predecessor; what is his vision for the viability and sustainability of an already failing Sugar Industry, which the PPPC continuously prop up by injecting billions of taxpayers’ money; due to their incompetence, lack of vision, foresight and poor management, just in the name of “cheap politics.”

Editor, the questions contained in my letter, published on Tuesday (December 3, 2024) are relevant. I have reincorporated them into this missive for emphasis and conclude by calling on Minster Mustapha to publicly provide appropriate responses to the people of Guyana, who I believe would like to know how their taxes are accounted for by Government.