Government on Wednesday released details of several major contracts, which had become talking points in the media and criticised by the opposition, saying the decision is in keeping with its record of openness and that it was making the documents available at a time when it is most appropriate to do so.
Former PNC Finance Minister Carl Greenidge
The contracts that were made available are the Amaila Falls Hydro Project, Marriot Hotel and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport project.
The documents included an evaluation report and consultancy contract agreement for the Amaila Access Road; the contract between the government and CHEC for the airport expansion; a newspaper advertisement for the hydropower project; and the contract, investment, lease and tax agreements for the Marriott deal. Government also lashed out at calls by the opposition parliamentary parties for details on the Amaila Falls hydropower project and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport expansion.
Making an appearance at the Post Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, pointed out that government had no difficulty in divulging the details of any project.
However, Dr Singh explained that government has several significant confidentiality obligations since it is still in discussion with large investors and large financial institutions; and in the process of negotiating financing. “And so there are very clear confidentiality obligations, as it relates to disclosures and extremely early disclosures of certain details,” Dr Singh stressed.
He said however that having recognised the need to advance the Amaila Falls hydropower project as quickly as possible, and for obvious reasons, government has decided to avail itself of that forum which brings together the major political stakeholders, and engage the political parties in a discussion on the Amaila Falls Project.
Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh
Dr Singh stated that even as it relates to details that are under discussions and cannot be placed in the public domain, government would have no difficulty in making such revelations. As it relates to the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Dr Singh said government has taken note of the fact that the issue is in the public domain and generating considerable discussions.
The finance minister emphasised that this project would see the expansion of the airport, bringing it up to international standards with the extension of the runway, construction of a new terminal building, installation of passenger boarding bridges, and Close Circuit Television (CCTV) systems.
Dr Singh pointed out that the major infrastructural project will see a huge commercial centre that will be accessed by both staff and visitors to the airport, creating marketing opportunities in the area. The finance minister stressed the high level of job opportunities and income generation that could spring from such a project.
He noted that with the extension of the runway, large airlines would be able to include Guyana as a destination and large aircraft would be able to land in the country.
Dr Singh said international traffic inbound to and out bound from Guyana would be improved, including for cargo, since the designs allow for the accommodation of cargo aircraft.
He revealed that the Guyana government is still in discussion with the Chinese government on the financing aspect. According to Dr Singh, those discussions are well advanced and would see the involvement of a major Chinese company with a significant international footprint, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited, which has been contacted on the project. The project is expected to cost US$ 138 million. It has a clear developmental impact, key advantages, but is being undermined by conjecture, speculation and insinuations, Dr Singh said. He added that government’s transparency far outstrips any attempt made by the opposition towards this end.
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