The Ministry of the Presidency is “extremely concerned that in the rush to publish sensational stories media outlets are not exercising due diligence and this is irresponsible and can be perceived as malicious when it is not supported by fact.”
This is in relation to an article published today (April 14) by online News, Demerara waves, which states that Minister of State, Joseph Harmon “ordered the CJIAC (Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation) to transfer the GA2000 hangar to BK International”
In a statement released this evening by the Ministry of the Presidency, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, is “categorically denying” this claim.
The State Minister denies that any such instruction was given, noting that CJIAC and its Board fall under the authority of the Public Infrastructure, as was always the case.
He described the report as “wicked and malicious” and designed to “feed the frenzy about his connection to Brian Tiwarie.”
According to the Ministry of the Presidency, his position was supported by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CJIAC, Ramesh Ghir, who told “the Ministry of the Presidency that BK International Incorporated had, during the life of the previous Board of Directors, submitted a proposal for rental of the GA2000 hangar.”
He stated that though the Board had favourably considered the proposal, during a meeting, a decision was not communicated to Tiwarie or his company.
The Ministry further stated that “according to Board papers, which the Ministry of the Presidency has seen, in September 2014, the Board of Directors of CJIAC approved the Rental of the GA 2000 Hanger for a period of six months to BK International Incorporated. However, the contract for this approval was never executed. Therefore, there is no agreement for BK International Incorporated to rent the GA 2000 Hanger.”
Ghir claims that with the change in Government and the appointment of a new Board of Directors, the proposal was once again considered, but it has since been deferred.
The CEO also claims that he spoke with Dennis Chabrol of Demerara Waves via telephone and related that Tiwarie had not been officially granted the use of the hangar, either by rental or for purchase and that he was one of several operators who had expressed an interest in using the facility.
