…Pres Granger revokes Brian Tiwari’s advisory appointment

THE Ministry of the Presidency announced yesterday that the appointment of Mr. Brian Tiwari as Ministerial Advisor on Business Development has been rescinded.

The ministry did not provide any details on the appointment, but issued the statement one day after the Kaieteur News revealed that Tiwari had been appointed to the post by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon on January 19.

Tiwari is allegedly a close associate of the former PPP government, and has benefited from major contracts during its 23 years in office.

Political commentators, and some supporters of this present administration, had criticised Tiwari’s appointment because of his close ties with the previous administration and the damning allegations that have come out in the forensic reports.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, when approached last night on the issue, declined to comment.

“I have no comment; I wish that this matter be raised with the President,” the prime minister told journalists last evening.

But after pressed into making a comment, he subsequently opened up, explaining that an appointment by the President, or even by the Ministry of the Presidency, would not be subject to a Cabinet decision, whether positive or negative.

It was noted that under the previous administration, appointments were made by the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, who at the time happened to be Dr Roger Luncheon.

With reference to Tiwari’s appointment before it was rescinded, the Prime Minister opined that it may have been one of convenience, since a Ministerial Team is currently abroad on government business.
The Guyana Chronicle was able to confirm that Tiwari is currently in China with Minister Harmon and team on official duty. But in the interest of clarity, the prime minister advised that Minister Harmon is the one who should speak on the matter.
“The gatekeeper of the Presidency resides with the Minister of State; I would direct these questions to the Minister of State,” he said.
He also indicated that some government officials may have had some concerns with the manner in which the appointment had been done.
Alluding to statements made by Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan that he was shocked when he learnt that Tiwari had been appointed Ministerial Advisor on Business Development, the Prime Minister said: “I don’t think that he is saying so much as to whether or not he was in disagreement with the appointment; he was addressing the issue of the manner in which an appointment had been made, that he had to know by the media.”

Asked what he thought of the President’s decision to rescind the appointment, the Prime Minister said, “The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh…”

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, who was also present at the time of the interview, said he was clueless until the matter was brought to his attention by the press.

“I told you all I knew was what was in the paper,” he said, while stating clearly that he learnt of the entire matter from the press.

Tiwari, owner and founder of BK International, had told the Guyana Chronicle last May that the change which has come to Guyana was well deserving, and couldn’t have come at a better time. At the time of speaking, he’d already pledged to work closely with the David Granger administration.

His company had also provided assistance for the restoration of the 1966 Independence Arch. As he’d said back then, he sees this new government as one he could work with.
“It gives us some encouragement, because I see a better future for the children, where they can come out publicly and do things for their country,” Tiwari had told this newspaper.