Alliance For Change (AFC) Member of Parliament (MP) David Patterson has recently called for a police investigation of the process by which contracts are awarded to Chinese interests, by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government. The former Minister of Public Infrastructure said that a review is necessary after allegations of bribery were made against Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo. Patterson cited several taxpayer-funded projects that were assigned to Chinese contractors under questionable circumstances.
The US$700 million Amaila Falls Hydropower project was highlighted by Patterson. The AFC MP, who is currently the Shadow Oil and Gas Minister, also pointed to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project, a contract worth some US$138 million, and the new Demerara Harbour Bridge. The former minister mentioned several other projects including the East Coast Road project and the US$200 million Skeldon Sugar Factory.
The allegations of bribery referred to by Patterson were made by a journalist attached to Vice News, a New York based international media outlet. Last month, during an interview with the media company Jagdeo was asked if he takes bribes from the Chinese. The journalist said, “We’ve spoken to a number of Chinese business people in Guyana who said that you do accept bribes. In fact, they said, it’s the only way to get business done…to bribe you. One Chinese businessman who we talked to involving timber logging told us that basically, as long as the Vice President is okay with it, it’s fine. He just needs to get one phone call to whoever is in charge and they’ll get it done right away. The real big boss is the Vice President. Everything goes under the table. The whole country is like this.”
The journalist also questioned Jagdeo about his relationship with a Chinese national named ‘Su’. Although Jagdeo admitted to knowing “Su,” he denied the bribery allegations. Patterson said that owing to the allegations, which made headlines in February, and the dubious manner in which the contracts were awarded to the Chinese, the police should conduct investigations into the matters.
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