I'm not so interested in building the Marriott. I would like to know the true reasons for the AFC's opposition to the Hope Canal, expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, construction of a specialty hospital, and the Amaila Falls Hydro Project.

i donot think the AFC or apnu have any problem with these projects all they saying is lets see the books.now if the ppp is doing a honest business why they have a problem to disclose every thing to the guyanese public,why the big serects

Gov’t has spent $3.1B of lotto funds without parliamentary approval - Auditor General’s report
By Stabroek staff | November 8, 2010

Between 1996 and 2009, the government received $3.520 billion from the Guyana Lottery Company, and by the end of last year had spent $3.153 billion of this amount without the appropriate consent from the National Assembly.

The Auditor General’s report for 2009, which was tabled in Parliament on Thursday, again highlighted the Finance Ministry’s failure to pay over the government’s share of 24 per cent of the proceeds of the Guyana Lotteries Company to the Consolidated Fund.  Instead of complying, the proceeds are paid over to a special bank account and used to meet public expenditure without parliamentary approval, the report said. However, the government, through the Attorney General, is contending that it has no legal obligation to put this money into the Consolidated Fund, the report said.

According to the Auditor General’s report, “The balance in the bank account… was not refunded to the Consolidated Fund as required by Section 43 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act 2003 (FMA Act), but was retained by the ministry. Section 43 of the Act says that ‘Except as otherwise provided in this Act or in any other law, at the end of each fiscal year, any unexpended balance or public moneys issued out of the Consolidated Fund shall be returned and surrendered to the Consoli-dated Fund’.”

However, the Auditor General’s report said, “according to the legal opinion of the Attorney General concerning the deposit and use of funds… ‘there is … no legal obligation to transfer money therefrom into the Consolidated Fund.’  This fund is, however, subject to an audit by the Auditor General under the provisions of the FMA 2003,” the report said.

Meanwhile, of the $3.153 billion of the Lotto Funds spent to date, $55.849 million was used to meet expenditure last year. Some $54,199,000 of this amount was used by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport “to meet expenditure for the President’s Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG) adventure journey, Independence Anniversary,” the report said. Another $1.2 million was used to offer assistance to the Dr Jagan Memorial football knockout tournament while $450,000 was spent under the description of “stipend to members”.

This expenditure, the report said, was within the national sectors previously identified and was in accordance with the guidelines for access to the lottery funds. This included funding for activities that promoted cultural and youth and sports development, financed medical treatment overseas and economic support for disadvantaged groups, among others.

The accounts of the Guyana Lottery Commission for the years 2007 to 2009 are currently being audited by the Auditor General’s Office. The commission’s last set of audited accounts are for the year 2006.

my christmas wish is that we hang all these ppp thieves,is that too much to ask

Fat Cats.

I'm sure that is the case, but I would like to know which ones. In the case of the Marriott, we know that it is Pegasus proprietor Robert Badal. But the article doesn't name any others.

The AFC/PNC are power drunk with their 1 seat majority. Meanwhile their allegiance with Badal and other unsavory characters will continue to interrupt progress in the nation. Badal's motive is to keep his flea infested second rate hotel afloat at the expense of progress. But it is inevitable that progress will continue, it is the tide of change that just can not be stopped. The AFC/PNC affiliation with drug dealing characters is a disgrace but let them have their day in the sun with their 1 seat. Guyanese will ensure it will not happen again at the polls. 

The Marriott makes no economic sense and therefore should not be funded (partly) by the government. If the private investors want the Marriott then let them fund it. I have written extensively on this Marriott. The new terminal at the airport is not needed right now. What you need is an airport on the Essequibo coast which can help to tie in tourists on Caribbean tours who want a taste of the Guyanese jungles. They should just expand the runway. The AFC never said it does not want hydro. It is not convinced one big one Amaila will make electricity cheaper. Hence it prefers Tiger Falls (65MW) and other small and micro hydro integrated in a national smart grid. Don't think the AFC is against the Hope Canal. 

From about 80 proposed sites, Amaila is chosen by the Guyana Government.

Of course, AFC can indeed have its opinions.

Now that's very academic of you.

DG is a philosopher. He speaks deep insights with single sentence parables. In his last contribution he graced us with honor of two sentences. 

His signal-to-noise ratio is much better than that of some of the more prolific posters.

You must have an algorithm which helps you filter his signals. Power to you! No one else here seem to possess your filter.  

The AFC ego seems to be driven by self interest instead of National development, to deny funds for the Marriott because the Pagasus is their main financier, is ludacrious