IT seems as if whenever there is any major investment venture in Guyana, a group of cynics would attempt to create a ‘Great Wall of China’ to prevent it from materialising.
The latest attempt is with respect to the venture by the Indian company, Vaitarna Holdings Private Inc (VHPI).
According to these cynics, the concessions granted by the government were  shrouded in  secrecy and is another “sweet deal”, implying non-transparency and corruption.
However, one is prompted to ask where were these cynics when the Barama deal was clinched under the Desmond Hoyte administration?

Furthermore, where were these cynics when the GNTC wharf was sold, under the then privatisation programme, at a rock-bottom price?
Where were these cynics when the Guyana Telephone Corporation (GTC) was sold to the current GT&T at far below the market price and given a 20-year monopoly status?

It is interesting to note that the President, under which this deal fructified, was rewarded with a consultancy position at GT&T.
But we never heard any hue and cry from these same cynics then, who are now desperately trying to create controversy and stir up problems by looking for ‘skeletons in cupboards’ to prevent major investments and developmental programmes from moving forward.

Not so long ago, they made an attempt to stall the release of the Norwegian LCDS funds and they were humiliated.

But, apparently, they are relentless and determined in their quest to undermine progress and development under the current government, which they seemingly have a deep hatred for.
This behaviour and attitude clearly demonstrate that their hatred for this government precedes national development and, as such, they are prepared to ‘cut their noses to spoil their faces’.

But it is not the first time a PPP-led government has come under such attack.
Since the colonial period, PPP-led governments have had to endure this kind of pressure and, perhaps, this has led to the party emerging stronger as the years went by, and it became steeled in struggle.

With respect to the VHPI venture, it is clearly not a new concession. It is simply a transfer of a concession to another company and therefore the cynics should tell us why they did not raise any objection during the tenure of the previous company, but are doing so now.

Is it because an ‘Indian’ company is involved?  If this is the reason, then it is a most unthinkable one. Guyana has had a long history of fruitful cooperation with the people and Government of India.
Therefore, it was good that Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud held a press conference and debunked the nonsensical allegations and posturing by these cynics.

“Vaitarna Holdings Private Inc, through a transparent process, was issued a State Forest Exploratory Permit, previously issued to a U.S. company, Simon and Shock Inc (SSI), and also VHPI was issued a Timber Sales Agreement that was previously issued to a Caribbean company, Caribbean Resources Limited. What VHPI got through this process was a re-allocation of the SFEP which was suspended and the TSA which was repossessed,” Persaud stated.

It is also clear that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure that VHPI operations are in accordance with our National Log Export Policy.

“The GFC has a policy of added value forestry activities and would have rejected any application from the company if it was solely interested in log exports. Also, the National Forest Policy (currently under revision) does not say no to log exports, rather, it encourages and promotes value adding,” the minister explained.

It therefore boggles the mind as to what is the big hue and cry that is being made by this group of unpatriotic-minded persons.
However, it is clear that even if you bring the moon and stars and give them, they would still cry foul because of their narrow and selfish agenda.