A company owned by Cathy Hughes received $ 6M in contracts from the Ministry of Telecommunications
– approve at least one payment to the company as Minister
Former Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes
Kaieteur News – Minister for Public Affairs at the Office of the Prime Minister Kwame McCoy has announced that former Chief Executive and Member of Parliament for former Minister of Public Telecommunications and Alliance for Change (AFC), Catherine Hughes, has received over $ 6 her company, VideoMega Productions Limited. M in contracts from the ministry, over which she presided.
The documents, even seen in this publication, show that in one case Hughes appeared to have personally approved payment, with his signature, as Minister.
Notably, in 2019 Kaieteur News had reported that Hughes denied using his office or participating in the decision-making process that led to Videomega Productions being awarded a contract for producing ads for the oil and gas sector. The contract awarded to her company on behalf of the Department of Energy was done at the tune of $ 832,200 and the company itself had said that the Ministry of Telecommunications does not handle the daily operations. Hughes also argued that there was no conflict of interest given that she was not presiding over the Department of Energy. Further, it was stated that she had no knowledge that the contract had even been announced.
Another document showing invoices paid to the company.
The document Hughes appears to have signed itself.
However, new information shows that it has been revealed that the total number of contracts awarded to the company is approximately $ 6M, allocated under the Cathy Telecommunications Administration presiding. In one case, a specific document shows that Hughes appeared to have signed an invoice payment of $ 119,670 to the company, for boosting the Ministry’s Facebook Page between January 2018 and June 2018. This invoice is’ n Hughes’ signature seems to endorse. .
In addition to the payment, in 2016, the company received $ 1.13M in payments for ads; in 2017 $ 1.4M in payments for ads; in December 2017, $ 68,400 for “Community ICT-ICT Boost in Education (Photo Transfer) (MOPT Movie Film Collation)” in July 2018 $ 2.33M for “Community ICT Roadshow, 2018- TV & Radio, Show Caribbean ICT Radio, 2018- Ress Advertising Ads, Caribbean ICT Roadshow- Artwork Ready for Camera ”, Berbice Advertising“ Caribbean ICT Roadshow, 2018- Television Commercial- 45 seconds ”and even an interview with Hughes his itself, “Caribbean ICT Roadshow, 2018- 33 second TV” and “Caribbean ICT Roadshow, 2018- 33 second Radio”; and $ 956,519 for Advertising Publishing for “ICT Planning Officer- 8x3BW, ICT Education Officer- 8x3BW, Business Analyst ICT-8x3BW, Technical Administration. Assistant – 10x3BW ”.
Hughes was contacted by this publication yesterday for commentary on the recent disclosures to which he responded that this paper had already reported on and addressed the issue. It should be noted that there have been no previous reports in the latest releases. “For the record,” Hughes added, “I ceased to be a member of Videomega’s staff when I started to appoint a Minister of Public Telecommunications. On all my reports to the Integrity Commission, I declared my interest in Videomega. “
The former Minister was asked about the cases when he signed some of the invoices and if he “ceased to be a member of staff,” he relinquished ownership of the company. However, up to press time, the AFC’s Chief Executive failed to provide a response.