Cabinet doesn’t require polygraph tests – Harmon

Apr 21, 2017 News

…Says test was done on May 11, 2015

Responding to whether the David Granger-led Administration will consider taking polygraph tests, Minister of State Joseph Harmon, said that there is no need for that.

SARU CEO, Aubrey Heath-Retemyer

He, instead, contended that the polygraph test that needed to be done was already carried out on May 11, 2015.
“That was the polygraph test and that was the Election Day when the people decided this is what they want,” Harmon told media operatives.
Harmon’s response would come on the heels of the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, refusing to be subjected to a polygraph test as was suggested by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) Aubrey Heath-Retemyer.
The genesis of the fallout between SARU and the Opposition, stemmed from claims made by Jagdeo about SARU “shaking down businessmen”.
The former Head of State told media operatives that the bank accounts of top SARU officials would have swollen within a short period of time.
Retemyer took offense to this claim. He labelled it as ‘disgusting’. He rejected the assertion, noting that he has no ill-gotten gains and could not say the same for Jagdeo. The CEO then suggested that polygraph tests be done.
Jagdeo said that the only way he would take the test is if the President takes one too.
His rationale for having a polygraph with the President is that he is a former President and it will only be fitting to have it with the Head of State as oppose to the CEO of SARU.
“I (Jagdeo) will determine the questions that will be asked of the President and he determines what questions are put to me, I think that will be a brilliant idea”.
The opposition leader said that such a move will ensure that the two top officials will be in the same room whilst the exercise is conducted, since he has a number of questions he wants to put to Granger.
Harmon said, yesterday that President Granger was “elected by the people to serve as their Leader, as their President and therefore, the President acts in the best interest of Guyanese,”
Harmon went on to say that the same can be said for Government Ministers.
“And we don’t require any polygraph tests. If Mr. Jagdeo wants to be tested, then he’s free to do so but certainly, I don’t see the President going head to head with him (Jagdeo) on any polygraph testing because you know how it will come out,” Harmon told media operatives.