Government kept ‘Fip’ Motilall on short finance leash
THE Government had kept failed contractor Makeshwar ‘Fip’ Motilall on a short  leash, with respect to payments for his work on the Amaila Falls road contract, President Donald Ramotar said yesterday.
Commenting on claims by the sacked businessman that the Government owes him money, the Head of State said he was not in possession of all the figures but was certain of one thing, that Motilall was paid only for work done.
“I don’t have the figures to say how much Motilall was paid but, what I do know, is that our exposure has been limited, because of the arrangements we had put in place beforehand and that arrangement was to pay for work that was done. We were not paying for work that was not yet done,” Mr. Ramotar said.
He added that all the technicalities related to the contract are being examined  and he would be in a better position to pronounce  on its finances,  one way or another, as soon as this investigation is completed.
Government, on Thursday, cancelled the US$15.4M Amaila Falls Hydro Project contract signed with Synergy Holdings Inc, headed by Motilall.
The main reason for the action is Motilall’s failure to perform as contracted to do and President Ramotar stressed that the Government will be taking all the necessary steps to make sure the remaining work on the road is successfully finished.
In his first news conference since he became President, Mr. Ramotar noted that he has been busy over the past three weeks, focusing on keeping the economy going and moving forward.
The President said he had met people with interest in petroleum production, mining, large-scale agricultural, hydropower companies and many other foreign and local businesspeople  in sectors important to Guyana’s development.
President Ramotar said, based on his many interactions with investors and potential investors, to date, he is convinced that Guyana has very good prospects ahead.

ENLIVENING TRANSITION
He said his transition from General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to President of Guyana has been very enlivening.
“The transition has been good.  I have had a lot of cooperation. We have good staff. President Jagdeo has offered me his services whenever I feel to call him and I have been calling him from time to time on some issues.
“Being the Head of State, you have to deal with a lot of issues and I am working to grapple with everything.
“At the moment, I am trying to focus on the areas in which we can have the biggest impact, particularly as far as the economy is concerned,” the President reported.