The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government has once again come under fire by the opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), as allegations of extortion continue to surface.

 

PPP Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

The Party’s Chief Whip Gail Teixeira told reporters yesterday that the PPP/C  has evidence that Government officials have been making demands and threats to businessmen.
“We have evidence of the head of an agency within the Ministry of the Presidency being in meeting with a member of the Private Sector to seek donation of $12 million to carry out certain works,” Teixeira disclosed.
According to the veteran high-ranking PPP/C executive,  the message was clear that if they did not donate, they would be unsuccessful in the future with the contracts. The meeting succeeded in getting $8 million in donations.
Teixeira said the issue is not only the extortion but why the extortion, when the agency has enough money, budgeted for, to carry out this work.
“Budget was only passed less than a month ago and they could not have spent out that money in less than a month and therefore there is no shortage of money to carry out that work.
“More and more we are hearing of businessmen (of goods and services) who are facing pressure to donate to Government and other times called directly, by the heads of these agencies and their Ministers, requesting donations, with threats of not getting work or contracts, if they did not make the donation”. Teixeira said there is no need to call for donations since the money is available in the budget.

“This is pure extortion and it is becoming a norm in Guyana currently,” Teixeira declared.