Gegroegtown: General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) Rawlston Adams has resigned amid a major scandal surrounding extravagant gifts for senior APNU+AFC government officials, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill confirmed.
An audit into the Asphalt Plant (which falls under the DHBC) found that $424,700 of taxpayers’ money was spent to purchase a hand band for former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, who is Edghill’s predecessor.
Additionally, a sum of $76,300 was spent to purchase a tie pin for the former Minister. Based on the records, the gifts were purchased for Patterson’s birthday celebration in 2017.
The investigation into the operations of the Asphalt Plant also revealed that the General Manager of the Bridge Company had spent in excess of $800,000 to purchase a bracelet for himself.
It further noted that gifts were also given to all other men within the Corporation, to an approximate value of $10,000 each, to mark the occasion of International Men’s Day.
Records show that more than GYD$1.5 million dollars had been spent by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, Demerara Harbour Bridge, Maritime Administration, Cheddi Jagan International Airport,and Transport and Harbours Department to purchase gifts for Mr. Patterson and his then Junior Minister Annette Ferguson. Except in one instance, all of Ms. Ferguson’s gifts had been under GYD$100,000.
The then Junior Public Infrastructure Minister Annette Ferguson also received gold jewellery as birthday gifts from agencies / departments of that ministry.
Mr. Edghill also produced a list of items, including beds, that had been donated by the Demerara Harbour Bridge to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, to the total value of GYD$$6,757,175. The list names Ms. Ferguson as having received one Samsung Edge 7 phone valued GYD$203,000, one screen protector valued GYD$2,900, one rugged armour case valued GYD$5,104 on July 12, 2016. The list also shows that then Senior Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson had been assigned one Dell Latitude E7450 Laptop valued GYD$382,822 and one Apple iPad valued GYD$233,750
Records also show that the Maritime Administration processed two separate payments to Steve’s Jewellery for “gift items” on May 2, 2020. However, none of the records, including two receipts that were provided, listed the items that had been purchased. One payment was for GYD$387,486 and the other was for GYD$704,292. “I believe what bothers me most and I am agonizing over is that May 2020 was after the no-confidence motion, it was after the March 2nd, 2020 elections. In the middle of a heightened period of court cases and determination of what was taking place, heading for a recount and the then Minister who was squatting in office (allegedly) received gifts from the Maritime Department,” Mr. Edghill said.
Back on August 24, 2017, Ms. Ferguson’s name has been mentioned in records for the procurement of earrings valued GYD$68,700 for her “birthday celebration” with funds from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.
Documents also show that one pair of gold earrings valued GYD$50,000 was purchased from L. Seepersaud Maraj on August 24, 2018 in accordance with a requisition by a Personal Assistant for an advance on August 24, 2020.
Similarly, Transport and Harbours Department requested GY$34,190 to purchase one 14 karat leaf drop from King’s Jewellery, one keyring and one card for Ms. Ferguson’s birthday.
Minister Edghill had announced that persons will be held accountable for the gift-buying spree which occurred at the DHBC.
You must be logged in to post a comment.