Gifting fibre optic cable reminiscent of radio frequencies giveaway – Greenidge

A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) point man on Finance, Carl

APNU’s Carl Greenidge

Greenidge, and financial analyst, Ramon Gaskin, have blasted the Government’s “sweetheart” deal with Dax Contracting Services. He described the transaction as evidence of the government’s many questionable transactions and disregard for the rights of the general public to access of information. According to the contract, Dax Contracting Services has sole rights to the repair, use and maintenance of the fibre optic cable, for an initial 25 years, with an option to extend it for a further 15 years. Dax Contracting will also have access to and use of all structural components of the fibre optic project, including road access, access to poles and repeater stations. In the contract, Dax will also enjoy uncapped benefits from the state such as tax exemptions, tax holidays, duty free concessions on tools, equipment and vehicles. Greenidge, a former Minister of Finance, strongly condemned the deal, stating that the government should not be engaged in signing any long term contracts, in the run up to general and regional elections. This, he stated, is the rule in any democratic country. He also compared it to the radio licences giveaway before the 2011 General and Regional elections. “This Government believes it is not bound by rules. These are things they do in spite of the law for the benefit of a select few.” Greenidge, who in March filed a writ in the High Court against Finance Minister Ashni Singh and Attorney

Dax Contracting Services Faisal Mohamed

General Anil Nandlall, barring them from accessing a US$17M Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan, also stated that the court was an option that was open to his party. “The fact is, however, they have already signed (the contract). We will, however, challenge the legitimacy of the contract. We will leave it for the courts to decide.” Financial analyst, Ramon Gaskin, has also blasted the Government’s agreement with Dax Contracting Services, whereby the Brazil/Guyana fibre optic cable has been virtually ‘gifted’ to the company. Describing it as an obscene ‘illegality’, Gaskin expressed the necessity of having the project stopped, citing the timing of the transaction, with just days before General and Regional elections. “Of course it should be stopped. The entire thing is illegal. Just days before elections, (Government) will be giving away these state assets? There should be a statutory prohibition on giving anything to anybody in the run up to elections,” Gaskin said. Gaskin, who has long been an outspoken critic on many Government policies, also drew comparisons with the situation just before the last elections, when radio licences were controversially gifted to a few persons who had close ties to the administration, while longstanding private media houses were bypassed. “Someone should approach the courts and have it stopped dead in its tracks.” The issue of new radio stations, which bears a marked resemblance to the Government of Guyana/Dax agreement, was an embarrassing one for the Donald Ramotar administration after revelations that

Financial Analyst Ramon Gaskin

Jagdeo bypassed a standing agreement with the Opposition. He unilaterally granted several radio and cable licences to not only his friends but also to close party members and even to the ruling PPP newspaper, The Mirror, just before he left office. It was widely seen as part of a bigger plan by Jagdeo to gain control of the airwaves. Several prominent media houses were ignored by Jagdeo, leading to condemnation locally and internationally, and to protests. Among those granted approvals for radio licences were Telcor & Cultural Broadcasting Inc, the former owner of IRadio 90.1 FM, the company closely linked to Minister Persaud. Also granted five frequencies were Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, Jagdeo’s close buddy. He was allowed also to buy over a television Channel (TVG) from its former owner Tony Vieira under controversial circumstances. The Mirror, owned by the PPP, was also granted five frequencies through Dharamkumar Seeraj, a senior member of the ruling party.