–says company still engaged in Jamaica
CHINA Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Limited has denied the implications contained in a Kaieteur News article published in the June 7, 2012 edition of the newspaper. In a statement issued Saturday, CHEC noted that it is dated information which was carried in several media worldwide last year, and responded to by CHEC at the time in question.
The statement noted that the facts are that Mr. Arafat Rahman Koko was engaged as a consultant to CHEC’s Bangladesh start-up operations, and received payments from the company in that capacity.
CHEC had no knowledge of any misconduct on the part of the consultant, and it is important to note that CHEC was never indicted for committing any offence in relation to this matter, and that the investigations found no wrongdoing by our company, the statement adds.
According to CHEC, no investigation conducted by the authorities in Jamaica concluded malpractice or impropriety of any kind on the part of CHEC. CHEC continues to be engaged by the Government of Jamaica, and is currently in negotiations with that government concerning new developmental projects which constitute significant infrastructure investments in Jamaica.
CHEC says it operates successfully worldwide in accordance with the laws and regulations of countries in which we have operations, and the company maintains the highest ethical standards of integrity and corporate governance.
Furthermore, the statement adds, the Government of the People’s Republic of China has established very high legal and other anti-corruption standards for companies organised under Chinese law, such as CHEC. CHEC’s overseas operations continue to abide by these very high standards.
Earlier in the week, the company had denied it was blacklisted by the World Bank in 2009 after the Jamaican Contractor General had raised concerns.
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo, under whose presidency the contract was awarded to CHEC, urged the current administration to examine the World Bank’s concerns that were raised.
He cautioned President Donald Ramotar to seek explanations from the Chinese Government about the conduct of China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC), since it is state-owned.
Mr. Jagdeo had also urged that President Ramotar review the CJIA contract, to ascertain whether there were any unethical practices, and that Guyana would be getting value for money; and if there is any illegality in the project, whether to continue the project with the Chinese company or change the company.