April 7, 2016 Source

Minister of State Joseph Harmon yesterday declined to answer questions on his alleged interference in the work of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) with respect to Chinese-owned logging company Baishanlin, saying that he will issue a statement.

Harmon made the brief comment after being pursued around a room at the Ministry of Presidency by reporters shortly after the swearing in ceremony for the recently elected Mayors and Deputy Mayors had ended.

When first approached he indicated that he had to deal with “some duties”. He then walked off and began shaking the hands of persons, some of whom had moments earlier taken the oath of office.

Pressed on the accusation of his interference in the work of the revenue body, he responded “not now. You would get a statement on it”. When pressed further he reiterated that a statement will be issued. Harmon has avoided answering questions for several days.

It has been reported that Harmon attempted to halt the seizure of two vehicles owned by the logging company which is under investigation for tax evasion. The seizure exercise was being conducted by GRA in collaboration with the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

The claim is that officials were preparing to execute the seizure when Harmon contacted them instructing that the vehicles  not be removed and that the company be left alone. The seizure was eventually done on Tuesday.

The interference allegation comes on the heels of Harmon singlehandedly appointing businessman Brian Tiwari as a business advisor to government without the knowledge of the president. That appointment has since been rescinded by President David Granger who has said that the businessman’s services were not needed.

Harmon’s conduct has raised eyebrows and has led to the Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) labelling his actions as corrupt.

In a strongly-worded press release issued on Tuesday, the transparency body said that “the recent revelations in the local media regarding the appointment of advisors to the APNU +AFC Government and political interference in the work of the Guyana Revenue Authority by Minister of State Mr. Joseph Harmon have set a dark cloud over the operations of the current government”.

It said that with Guyana languishing in the lower levels of the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, TIGI “had expected that a coalition that campaigned on a platform of anti-corruption would have immediately and vigorously confronted corruption as a primary goal. Regretfully, the action by Mr. Harmon and the inaction and silence of the Coalition on corruption suggest that any expectation of early improvement in the perception of corruption in Guyana is at best premature and at worst dangerously misconceived”.

The TIGI zeroed in on Tiwari’s comments and noted that Harmon’s subsequent statement on the reason behind the appointment implies that this is an example of a reward for assisting government particularly on the campaign trail.

“The Minister of State is confirming that the government has been using its position to employ and reward, out of state resources, its supporters and donors. By the Minister’s own admission, well-paying and prestigious jobs and other privileges were up for sale during the 2015 elections campaign in which the party stood on an anti-corruption and transparency platform”, it said.

TIGI contended that the ministry’s conduct and by extension the government constitutes corruption by any international standard.

The transparency body also singled out Harmon on the Baishalin issue stating that it is a matter of concern.

Tiwari’s appointment was rescinded while he and Harmon were in China. Questions have been raised about the nature of this trip and who paid for it. Tiwari’s BK International and a Baishanlin-connected housing company have been in dispute over a property on the East Bank of Demerara. Questions have been raised as to whether the China trip was somehow connected to this.

While in opposition, Harmon and a range of other officials now in the APNU+AFC government had taken a strong line on investors like Baishanlin which had not been living up to their investment commitments. To compound matters, critics point out that the audit commissioned by the APNU+AFC government of the Guyana Forestry Commission has exposed serious concerns about the dealings of Baishanlin here. Under those circumstances, critics say the government’s present stance on the Chinese company is baffling.