Dear Editor,
PERMIT me a bit of space in your publication to comment on an issue that is very current. Mr. Roy Beepat of the Giftland Mall on the East Coast, has raised some pertinent questions regarding preferences which were given to the Movie Towne Group versus what Giftland and other major investors were accorded during the previous administration.

I am interested in one major aspect of this issue and it has to do with the preferences and benefits given to close friends and families during the Jagdeo/Ramotar era. Despite what the former president may wish to say at his weekly press conferences, the evidence that all men and women were not equal during his time in office from 1999 to 2011, is overwhelming. Some benefitted far more than others. Those who in particular had refused to bend the rules to suit the whims and demands of those in power back then, were given the royal run-around.

Those who pledged support to the PPP, involved the boys, girls their friends and families in their projects as beneficiaries, were well treated and given preferences. These preferences gave them head- starts way above others. Mr. Beepat is clearly not one of these. As the Movie Towne issue demonstrates, Mr. Jagdeo favoured this investor as it is widely known that he is a close friend of Mr. Derek Chin, the Guyana-born principal investor in the project. They remain close today.

I therefore urge the coalition to immediately release the facts on any project, any decisions made by Mr. Jagdeo during his time that would show the reading public what had obtained during his tenure as he constantly pontificates about how politically and administratively pious he was during his time as president. It is time that he is put in his place.

The evidence shows otherwise. I also expect that the GRA would investigate claims that some of the materials and equipment which were set aside for the Airport Improvement Project ended up at Movie Towne. Again, it was during the time of the Jagdeo-Ramotar era. Still they are so pious.

Regards
Earl Hamilton