Latest update March 29th, 2024 12:59 AM
Nov 12, 2014 News
– Directs them to Cabinet Secretary
General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, refused
to answer questions relating to the controversy surrounding the Attorney General (AG)’s use of $6M belonging to the state for a personal undertaking.
In a profanity-laced recording of a conversation between the AG Anil Nandlall and a Kaieteur News reporter, Nandlall was heard admitting to the transaction
His exact words were, “I use some money from the government and Glenn (Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall) mek an issue of it. I pay back deh f**king money long before he even mek de issue and he know about it because wha it pay fuh.”
The confusion came when Nandlall sought to cover his tracks. As he read a statement to employees of his Ministry, Nandlall said that what he was heard saying on the recording was unfortunately interpreted to implicate him in some form of financial impropriety.
He said, “I wish to set the record straight on that issue. The reference relates to the reimbursement I received for monies I expended on medical treatment. This reimbursement was approved by Cabinet in a written Cabinet decision dated 20 June 2013. This is, and historically has been, an entitlement of every member of Cabinet long before my appointment.”
This statement has already been contradicted by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, but Rohee chose not to even answer questions related to the issue despite the fact that he is a sitting member of Cabinet.
When asked if he was present at Cabinet meeting when the body approved $6M of taxpayers’ money for the Attorney General’s personal use, Rohee responded, “What money?”
However, Rohee, who said he had “no knowledge”, made sure he clarified his statement.
The politician said “let me be careful, when I say I have no knowledge of that, I mean I have no knowledge of what you
are saying, not that I have no knowledge of what Cabinet approved.”
But when offered clarification on what was being asked, Rohee said “I am not going there.”
“Please, please, I would wish to encourage you not to use my press conference to legitimize a recording that the government is now seeking to have greater scrutiny,” said Rohee.
Pressed to answer the question even from the aspect of the AG’s statement, Rohee said that the best person to answer questions related to Cabinet would be the Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon.
Rohee said that the Cabinet Secretary is best to answer, mainly because he has the record of all decisions made by Cabinet. But the probability of Dr. Luncheon answering that question is slim.
Only last week, he told the media that he wishes to distance himself from making public pronouncements on the Nandlall issue.
Luncheon noted too that government’s stance to support Nandlall even in the face of the recorded evidence of his transgressions does not necessarily reflect the advice by him to the President.
Luncheon said that while his opinion may have differed from those which influenced the position taken by the government, he is fully prepared to support the administration’s stance.
Another high ranking government official who spoke on the issue is Prime Minister Samuel Hinds. In an interview with Kaieteur News, Hinds said that he would not call the monies approved for certain emergencies an entitlement.
The Prime Minister disclosed that such discretion by Cabinet “is not something that is automatic. It is something that would require much review.”
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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