– reiterates the deal was above board
THE Ministry of Public Works is none too happy with the way China Harbours Engineering Company (CHEC)’s involvement with the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion Project is being handled by certain sections of the local media, and said as much in a carefully worded statement issued late yesterday. The following is the full text of that statement:
“THE Ministry of Public Works notes with great concern articles and statements in sections of the national media with respect to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion Project.
“Some of this information has been characterised in a manner designed perhaps to mislead and confuse the public.
“The Ministry of Works wishes to restate that:
“The engagement with China Harbours Engineering Company arose out of its proven track record in large-scale infrastructure projects worldwide and, particularly, its regional projects in Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands and Guyana’s dire need to expand and upgrade its international airport facility to meet urgent demand deficits and growth requirements.
“The proposals from CHEC were evaluated over several interactions which took into consideration industry norms for such a facility upgrade and expansion inclusive of the requisite national costs for such a project. The engineering team which evaluated the project included senior managers and engineers from the Ministry of Public Works and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation.
“The national imperative to have a significant priority project available/ready for the China Caricom Summit in September 2011, held in Trinidad with Chinese Vice-Premier was a time-constraining factor with respect to the approval for the EXIM Bank of China. Failure to have the project contracted for approval would have meant a considerable loss of time for this significant project with no surety as to its eventual financing.
“The contract for the CJIA Expansion Project was signed in Guyana on the 11th November, 2011. A preemptive early press release in Jamaica before the Guyana side had completed all its formalities allowed for a misrepresentation in Guyana that there was a ‘secret deal’ concluded.
“The Ministry of Public Works is of the view that the project is merited based on the narrow window of opportunity presented and on the enormous value for money benefits the project proposal presented for Guyana.
“The Ministry of Public Works hopes that the preceding information clears up any misconception, and wishes to remind the public that the requested documents were not only presented to the media, but also to each member of the National Assembly.”
Ministry of Public Works
June 30, 2012