APNU/AFC deviating from promises of transparency and accountability – PPP

April 1, 2016 | By KNews | Filed Under News,  http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....-accountability-ppp/

The recent revelation of the appointment of businessman Brian Tiwarie, as a Ministerial Advisor on Business Development, managed to raise eyebrows. In addition, following a statement from the Government stating that it has rescinded Tiwarie’s appointment without explaining why, it paved the way for further scrutiny.

PPP/C’s Chief Whip,
Gail Teixeira

The businessman’s appointment as a ministerial advisor was not announced by the government but was signed “secretly” by the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon on January 19, 2016.

Harmon in his response stated that the appointment was a mere ‘honorific title’ and emphasised that the facts of the matter are being twisted. He firmly believes that the criticisms, which have since ensued, are all part of a wicked plot to jeopardise his political career.

With a fraction of the nation kept in the dark, some Ministers – according to reports – were also clueless with regards to this development.

No doubt, it has also attracted the attention of the main Parliamentary Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) who hosted a press conference at Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown yesterday.

PPP/C’s Chief, Gail Teixeira, told media operatives that the government seems to be developing a habit of not informing the populace on issues of significant importance, and if this should continue, it would have dire consequences down the road.

“It appears to become a habit of the Government of not telling people anything until you wake up in the morning and find it,” she said.

This she said, goes against the transparency and accountability that the David Granger-led administration had promised since taking office in May, 2015.

She continued that while the Government has a right to have and cater for presidential advisors, this trend of new ministers having advisors is a “new development.”

She also related that the PPP/C during the Budget Estimates Debate held in January last, had requested that the names of Presidential Advisors be submitted to the house. Names were called out, she said, but Tiwarie’s name was never mentioned.

Requests were also made for ministers to name their advisors, however, “many” she said, refused to provide names.

On the issue of Tiwarie being appointed with an ‘honorific title’, the Chief Whip said that there is a difference that the PPP/C does not know about, however, the receipt of any title given by government, allows the holder to have some sort of superiority – the ability to “open doors” and the ability to close them.

She also raised concerns about the “many” advisors that were appointed in the Diaspora.

“We had asked the government about the advisors overseas; who they were? What they were doing. Are they being paid? Are they not being paid? Are they like the honorary consuls where they get a little stipend?

We can’t get answers on that,” Teixeira said.

The Chief Whip also registered her concerns about news of extortion being carried out by the government against several levels of society.

“We have to, at this Press Conference, also not be oblivious to the fact that more and more the culture of fear is taking place in a number of levels in our society. We are hearing more and more about extortion of members of the business community to make donations to the ruling party and/or projects, with the threat that they would not be considered for contracts,” Teixeira said.