By Pt Ubraj Narine- Mr Emile Mervin in missive on “Blame Game over … GuySuCo …” (April 9) notes that then President Jagdeo “approved the Chinese company CNTIC to build the Skeldon sugar factory even though it never dealt with sugar or factory construction.”
Skeldon failed, and USA$200 million went down the drain. That is forty billion Guyana dollars, yes forty billions, money that would have enriched the sugar workers, putting over a million Guyana dollars in the pocket of each one of them.
Is a repeat failure in the making by Jagdeo/Ali in the oil or energy sector? The duo have selected companies to construct more than US$2 billion gas-powered electricity power station at Wales and the oil refinery in Berbice.
Was due diligence done in selecting the companies? Did the selected companies ever build a large factory, and if so, where? Did they ever build an oil refinery, and if so, where? Did they ever build a power generating plant, and if so, where? The answers to these questions are important to avoid a repeat of the disastrous Skeldon factory.
Mr Mervin also makes reference to one Dr. Raj Singh as Chair (sic CEO) of the sugar company in May 2015. Raj Singh was appointed CEO in 2011. Raj Singh referred to himself, and others referred to him as “Dr”, meaning he earned a doctorate.
Mr Raj Singh was known as a bosom friend of Donald Ramotar and Bharrat Jagdeo. He often chaired their meetings when they visited New York much to the chagrin of fellow members of the Association of Concerned Guyanese, support group of PPP.
Can Mr Raj Singh tell us his qualifications ‘in sugar’ that allowed his selection to run the company? Where did he study and receive his MA and PhD. degrees? What topics did he write his thesis? Where can we find his MA and PhD. thesis? Did he finish a BA degree, and from where?
These questions are important because Raj Singh suddenly stopped using ‘Dr’ in front of his name after questions were asked about his credentials and after being removed from GuySuCo in 2015.
The answers to these questions are also important for the public in order to know the quality of people the PPP hired to run the sugar company that has been rendered bankrupt under the PPP (Jagdeo, Ramotar, and now Ali administrations).
I note Mr Raj Singh was appointed by Jagdeo/Ali as High Commissioner to United Kingdom three years ago, a position he still holds. What are his academic credentials and other qualifications to serve as High Commissioner to the UK?
Did he study international relations and diplomacy, and if so, where? Was Mr Raj Singh hired by GuySuCo as a consultant after Sasenarine Singh was hired as CEO of the company? It is reported that Sasenarine Singh is being sent to Belgium as Guyana’s Ambassador.
Is GuySuCo the training ground for hand-picked friends to ruin the sugar industry on the backs of hard-working poor sugar workers? Is Sase an international relations expert? Is he being rewarded for the performance at GuySuCo?
What was Raj’s remuneration package, and for how long? Was he still a consultant to the sugar company when he became HC to the UK?
These are very important questions as they may help the public understand why GuySuCo is a money losing enterprise and has been in the predicament it finds itself and the competence and quality of our politically appointed diplomats GuySuCo CEOs and management should be held accountable for the failure of the company.
“Moon ah run till day ketch am”.
And the Jamaicans seh” yuh gud bad bai”
Pt.Ubraj Narine, JP, COA
Former Staff Sgt.(GDF), Mayor City of Georgetown