APNU+AFC used $50M in public funds for Buju Banton concert in 2019- PAC hears

Back in 2019, the former APNU+AFC government expended the sum of $50 million in public funds to host a concert which saw performances from Jamaican reggae/dancehall superstar Buju Banton.

The funds form part of the $728 million that was expended from the Guyana Lottery Fund for that year. A sum of $745 million was allocated to the Guyana Lottery Commission in the 2019 budget.

This revelation was made on Monday when the Public Accounts Committee examined the Auditor General’s report for 2019 for the Ministry of Finance.

It was previously stated that the money spent to host the event came from the party.

During Monday’s hearing, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill questioned the expenditure.

In response, Accountant General, Jennifer Chapman detailed that the payments include $50 million for the Buju Banton ‘Long Walk to Freedom’ concert.

So, Edghill further pressed for details on this concert, mainly by asking whether it was a national programme.

However, Chairman of PAC, Jermaine Figueira interjected and noted that all payments done out of the lottery commission fund are issued through a decision from Cabinet.

“It was a Cabinet decision. Come on, don’t let us play politics here,” Figueira said.

A back and forth followed. “If the Government of Guyana, whether by Cabinet decision or not pays $50 million to an artist, I am simply asking was it a national programme. I don’t recall this Walk to Freedom,” Edghill stated as he continued to press for answer.

However, the PAC chairman maintained that the expenditure was done based on a Cabinet decision.

“We only spend from the Lotto Fund when we receive Cabinet decision and as far as I am aware that would be a policy directive that we would not be in a position to ignore,” Finance Secretary Sukrishnalall Pasha told the PAC.

According to Pasha, $32 million was transferred to the consolidated fund for 2019. The remaining fund, he said, is mandated to be transferred to the consolidated fund by the end of each year.

Other expenditure for 2019 include $88 million for the Independence Flag raising ceremony, $150 million for rehabilitation of grounds and $27.8 million for Emancipation activities.