Gov't calls out corrupt deals under the APNU/AFC

“PPP/C Budget measures have a record of integrity” – Min. Walrond

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Oneidge Waldrond says while the Opposition continues to accuse the PPP/C administration of corruption and disregard for the vulnerable groups in society, the evidence against them from their time in office says otherwise. During her presentation on Budget 2022, Minister Walrond cited several instances of corruption from unnamed members of the previous APNU-AFC Cabinet.

Minister of Tourism, Industry & Commerce, Oneidge Walrond.

She reminded the National Assembly of the investigation into a former minister under the previous government by the Public Procurement Commission, who allegedly sole sourced a contract.

“It is clear from the report from the commission, that the honourable member handpicked what was described in the report as an unsolicited proposal,” the minister said. Minister Walrond told the house of an instance where $70M was paid by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to a foreign company, in advance for the procuring of motion scales but was never delivered.

This among other corrupted transactions were revealed before the National Assembly by the Tourism Minister.

She noted that these monies that were lost to corruption should have been used by the previous Government to improve the lives of the vulnerable.

“A dollar lost to corruption could have been used to provide uniforms for school children or to fund school feeding programme, it could have been applied to increase pensions for elderly and senior citizens,”

She said.

In ending her contribution to the Budget, the minister said Budget 2022 will be ‘truly transformative’ as it will propel the tourism sector into the ranks of the developed countries as well as the creation of jobs. .

“We stand by, and perform every word we have to the people. You can also see from our record Mr. Speaker, that our record is that of competence. Simply put Mr. Speaker, not only do we promise but we deliver. Mr. Speaker, it is no exaggeration for us to say that Guyana is at a watershed moment in its history,”

she posited.