OUTGOING British High Commissioner, Andrew Ayre, may have been faithful to his brand of hatchet-job politics against the administration of President Donald Ramotar. It is, however, surprising that the European Union (EU) could have goofed, as it seems, in a misrepresentation of the Government’s accounting procedures for funded projects, given sustained good relations with the EU Delegation to Guyana.
As reported a few days ago by Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, the EU has disappointingly withheld the release millions of dollars for negotiated projects until “eligibility criteria are satisfactorily addressed.”
At the time of writing, the Finance Minister was engaged in seeking urgent ‘clarifications’ over what appears to be an unfortunate and unnecessary muddle given prevailing correspondence between Guyana and the EU Budget Steering Committee.
The Finance Minister has explained that projects affected by the “misunderstanding” that has developed include the sugar industry and sea defence projects. He further explained that this regrettable development should not be confused with political issues pertaining to prorogation of Parliament and arrangements underway for new general elections.
The Finance Minister has considered it necessary to publish correspondence relevant to the projects in Guyana being funded by the EU which includes financial aid from the United Kingdom.
The Finance Minister’s response followed  a press statement from the EU that the latest “partial payments for the sugar industry and sea defence project have been temporarily  put on hold until all eligibility criteria, inter alia, budget  oversight, are satisfactorily addressed…”