The President and the DTL forestry company

The President and the DTL forestry company
Kaieteur News
October 3rd, 2007

Dear Editor,

Recently, we read the following: "According to President Jagdeo, he didn't
think the Government still owned shares in DTL, but he said that he needed
to check on this.

"He said that in the past the company was sold without any public tender and
people involved were paid monies improperly" (See: "Transfer of assets
between forest companies must meet approvals - Jagdeo," Tuesday, August 28th
2007, SN.).

This shocking statement by the Honourable President, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, may
be considered excusable, since we cannot reasonably expect any human being
(or President, or Finance Minister, or Minister of Forestry) to know
everything that goes on in the state. It also shows that the President is
human, and is willing to publicly admit his lack of knowledge in this
particular case.

However, until recently, the President was also Minister of Finance. One
would think that any normal Minister of Finance would be fully conscious and
aware of where to expect revenues and also how much revenue to expect -
particularly from big forestry companies in which the government has or may
have shares. This would definitely be a big part in his budget preparations.
This seems even more perplexing since the President, as a former Finance
Minister, points out that this particular company was involved in financial
irregularities. Surely, any Finance Minister would have his staff ensure
that that company was in compliance with the financial standards of the
country, especially since the company got his attention.

Governments are usually relentless in their pursuit of revenue from whatever
sources - so the Finance Minister must be on the ball to make sure that the
people get their fair and legal share - especially when the needs of the
country are enormous. So, if the President, as former Finance Minister, does
not know, then surely the President, as Minister of Forestry, must know.
However, the President in all three (President, former Finance Minister,
Minister of Forestry) capacities fumbles, as is evident by an admission of
not knowing the details surrounding this big issue.

The President, who is usually all pervading (all of a sudden in three
capacities), does not know the details of the partnership and the financial
dealing between the Government of Guyana and a major forestry company. This
certainly makes one wonder who, if anyone, is looking or not looking after
the nation's business. We have to wonder who the all powerful President
asked to confirm whether or not the government still has shares in this
company. Hopefully, it was not the forestry company.

admission is in contradiction of the usual all-pervading attributes of the
powerful hands-on President. We know that the President was able to go out
of his way and override the wishes of the independent 'Council of UG' to
impose his friend as the VC of UG, yet he was neglectful of his duties in
his own portfolio.

The President's all-pervading tendencies to know and be involved in
everything were observed during my tenure at UG. One Professor was running
to the President's office to get his duty free exemption for his car (a
concession granted to faculty who also work at the Tain, Berbice Campus). He
was doing this several times. I asked him why he has to run so often to the
President's office. He said that the President or Dr Luncheon has to approve
the duty free exemption first. I then asked him why the President of a
country deals with such trivial affairs, since proper documentation from the
University should be enough. Surely, he already has more important matters
on his plate, and any appropriate staff can deal with such routine matters.
I was told that the President decides everything like this - this is to
ensure that everyone knows that he is in charge. This begs the question, how
come the President does not know the details surrounding the Government and
DTL shares and financial agreement?

Needless to say this was shocking, but it gives one an idea of the anomalies
of the ruling elite of Guyana . Trivial things get the President's
attention, but the big issues go unattended. Now this gives one an idea of
why we are in so much trouble. The forestry companies must be having fun in
Guyana .

Seelochan Beharry