He explained that the ownership structure of the Company is made up of ordinary share capital of $400 million and preference shares of $950 million.
The holders of the ordinary shares, he said, are NIS, New GPC, Queens Atlantic and Secure International Finance Company, each having $80 million, and Hand-in-Hand and Demerara Contractors each holding $40 million.
“What this means is that the Government, inclusive of the NIS, owns 76% of the issued shares of the company. Apparently, the PSC’s awareness, or lack thereof, also does not extend to knowing that NICIL, a government agency, owns what is called a Special Share in the company,” Ram wrote.
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Two New GPC Directors at helm of Berbice Bridge Company
…Govt. through NICIL waives $104M in dividends annually
There has been a change of directorship at the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) but to date this information has not been filed with the Registrar of Companies.
The Companies Act of Guyana stipulates that any change in the Directors of the company has to be filed within “one month.” The change at the Berbice Bridge Company was made last year but never filed or publicized.
The information is that the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Company which is owned by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, has installed on the Board of the Berbice Bridge Company, two directors. At the same time, Government as the largest investor in the bridge does not have any.
The two New GPC Directors who now serve on the board of Directors of the Berbice Bridge Company are Avalon Jagnandan and Ravi Ramcharitar. The New GPC has $80M in share stock in the Berbice Bridge.
The other principal investors in the bridge include the National Insurance Scheme with $80M shares, Secure International Finance Company with $80M shares, Demerara Contractors which holds $40M shares, Hand in Hand Motor & Life Insurance Company that holds $40M shares and the Colonial Life Insurance Company with $80M shares.
Oddly, the shares that were held by CLICO (Guyana) remain in the name despite the fact that it is in the process of liquidation.
Accounting practice stipulates that it be filed in the name of the Liquidator which in this case is the Bank of Guyana.
The remaining and overwhelming majority of shares held in the Berbice Bridge Company belong to Government through the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) and stands at $950M in preference shares.
NICIL is headed by Winston Brassington, who has agreed to a waiver of all the monies earned by Government each year in the Berbice Bridge as its single largest investor.
This Publication has been reliably informed that Government earns just about $104M annually in dividends from the Berbice Bridge.
Receipt of this money has been waived by Brassington to facilitate payments to the remaining investors.
In the company’s annual report for 2010 it was stated that at December 31, 2010 more than $600M was owed to NICIL in dividends but that shareholder is reported in the financial statements as waiving “dividends and interest on dividends due up to December 31, 2010”.
In filing its returns for 2010, the number of shares identified for dividend payments total 400M and payable to each of the investors except NICIL.
Brassington is identified as the Secretary for the Berbice Bridge Company and signed off on its financial statement.
In 2010 the company took in $1.1B in revenue.
Geeta Singh-Knight who had presided over the massive failure of CLICO (Guyana) Inc has since been relieved of her post as a Director in the Company.
The Board of Directors of the Berbice Bridge Company is now chaired by Keith Evelyn who also heads up Hand in Hand Insurance Company.
Hand in Hand Trust Corporation, NICIL and Brassington were under fire recently for a questionable transaction involving the sale of millions of dollars of shares.
two very bright young men. We should all wish them the very best.
two very bright young men. We should all wish them the very best.
These YOUNG MEN have no say, the just carry the dictat of Bobby and Bharat - MUT and JEFF, the real owners of the Berbice Bridge.
Everywhere you look the PPP thiefin from the people of this country.
Baseman right dem definitely gonna win 55% in de next election
Everywhere you look the PPP thiefin from the people of this country.
Baseman right dem definitely gonna win 55% in de next election
55% of the Treasury they shall win and less than 40% of the people's votes.
This is the worse barefaced con on a people ever by a crooked administration. The Opposition need to be clear what they will do with this bridge company if the get in office. Tell the people you will fire all of those creeps and establish a holding company made up of ordinary citizens from berbice.
two very bright young men. We should all wish them the very best.
They are Babby's puppets. They have no say.
Nehru Bhai, There has been a change of directorship at the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) but to date this information has not been filed with the Registrar of Companies.
The Companies Act of Guyana stipulates that any change in the Directors of the company has to be filed within “one month.” The change at the Berbice Bridge Company was made last year but never filed or publicized.