Former Ministers Patterson and Ferguson received over $ 6.7M in donations from Harbor Bridge, other agencies
– includes bed, iPads, computers and jewelery
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill.
Kaieteur News had reported that former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson had received from the Demerara Harbor Bridge Corporation (DBHC) and the Asphalt Plant, gold jewelry worth about $ 500,000 paid for by taxpayer dollars.
The allegation was dismissed mercilessly by Patterson but changed its tone after even more damning evidence emerged, showing that they were not the only agencies from which he received expensive gifts.
In a statement, Patterson considered the reports against him to be “misleading and misleading” and did so with the intention of shaming him for further political advantage.
Patterson also noted that the “practice of giving memorabilia and other gifts” to Ministers is not a new undertaking. He even reminded that Ministers from both sides of the political divide had also been given gifts to mark special occasions.
Former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson.
“In my case, I never asked, solicited or in any way influenced the action of any agency in relation to presenting gifts to me or other government officials,” explains Patterson.
“I think it’s also necessary to note that I had no prior knowledge of any decision or details relating to buying or presenting gifts to anyone, including myself,” he added.
The former Minister said that he was under the assumption that the gifts presented to him during his tenure fully complied with the procurement guidelines of the “giving agency.”
The standard policy directives set out how such matters should be dealt with in accordance with the direction of the Cabinet decision, through a circular from the Ministry of Finance or Board policy.
Former Junior Public Infrastructure Minister, Annette Ferguson.
He further said, “It has also come to my attention that I am further alleged to have received a number of electronic items, such as phones, iPads and laptops. This is completely untrue, and I definitely deny it. It is clear that whoever made this lie does not know, for security and other reasons, that I do not accept electronics of any kind from any agency, including the government, and I have always chosen and purchased all items electronic that I own. For example, for this reason, I did not receive a mobile phone proposed by Parliament to Ministers. ”
But documents from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), the Department of Maritime Administration (MARAD), the Department for Transport and Harbor (T&HD), plus more of the Harbor Bridge paint a different picture.
And here are all the agencies under Patterson’s explanation during his term of office.
All these documents were presented to the media yesterday by Patterson’s successor, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill.
Patterson and his gifts
Referring to Patterson’s statement, Minister Edghill said it was “barefoot” and contained only words that lacked consistency. “He said I don’t wear jewelery but he was pictured wearing gold bands and so on,” Minister Edghill noted.
In total, according to the Minister of Public Works, Patterson received a total of $ 2.664 million from those agencies under his control in gifts and personal effects.
Not only that, buying the gifts spanned the five-year period during the Coalition’s tenure in office, and even included ones purchased in 2020, during the rigors of the five-month election.
For several of his birthdays (May 4), the then Minister received multiple donations from the various agencies under his view.
In 2016, he received several gift items from MARAD with invoices stating that the payment was for “Gifts for Minister Patterson’s Birthday.”
In 2017, documents show he received a $ 117,000 GGAA band purchased from King’s Jewelery World. Included in that purchase was an additional US $ 90 for the addition of Patterson initials using 14K gold.
In August 2018, MARAD approved payments for gift items for Patterson’s birthday worth $ 243,000. Also in May 2018, he received donations as well as vouchers spelling out payments of $ 76,818 and $ 300,000.
From the CJIA, in 2018, a pen also received $ 25,000 worth of King’s Jewelery World.
On May 6, 2019, it was reported that Patterson also received another gift from King’s Jewelery World worth $ 516,000.
Moving forward to 2020 when the country was facing the elections debate, the then Minister received a host of donations for his birthday celebration in May.
On May 4, 2020, documents show that Patterson received a donation from MARAD worth $ 704,292. The same day they presented another gift worth $ 387,486, both bought by Steve’s Jewelery World from the exact same agency.
The T&HD also presented Patterson with a gift worth $ 54,700 on the same date.
Household supplies and electronic gifts
Not only did Patterson benefit from donations, but his Junior Minister for Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, also did.
In total, Ferguson received $ 1.4 million in donations from the exact agencies listed.
But it wasn’t just jewelery. In fact, Patterson and Ferguson, according to Minister Edghill, each received $ 6,757,015 in electronics and home materials from the DHBC.
He explained that those items were not listed as asset registers but donations only.
On the list of items noted, two dell desktops worth $ 387,222 were purchased for both Ministers along with Apple iPAD Airs at a price of $ 213,750 each.
In addition, we also purchased TVs, printers, cocktail boards, foyer tables, rugs, safety shoes, a bookshelf, two dell PCs worth $ 164,600 each, plus a king size bed set, king size mattress, size bed set queen and a chest of drawers, Minister Edghill told media activists.