MINISTER of State Joseph Harmon is expected to issue a written statement today following allegations that he acted inappropriately by appointing controversial businessman, Brian “BK” Tiwarie as his personal adviser on business. This is according to President David Granger, who told reporters yesterday that an “extraordinary meeting” of Cabinet was held Tuesday, when a “commitment” on the Harmon saga was made.

“It was not a statutory Cabinet meeting,” the president said. “It was convened to discuss specific matters which had been deferred from previous Cabinet meetings. “And as far as the matter concerning Mr. Harmon is concerned, we have a commitment. He has prepared a statement, which was delivered orally to Cabinet, and that will be issued in writing,” he added. Due to this latest bit of controversy involving Harmon, the Alliance For Change (AFC), which forms part of the APNU+AFC coalition government, has issued a statement to the effect that he has too many powers and responsibilities.
Besides being Minister of State, Harmon is also Cabinet Secretary, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, and Secretary to the Defence Board.
But according to President Granger, who has already stated his position on the matter, Harmon’s responsibilities are not “burdensome” at all.
Harmon has also been accused of intervening in the work of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) by halting the seizure of two luxury vehicles belonging to the Chinese company, Bai Shan Lin.
The controversial Chinese company is being investigated by the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU), and Harmon was recently photographed with the company’s principals in a private jet during his trip to China.
But the President has since offered an explanation for this. “As you know, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China was in China at that time; he had to go to three or four different cities, and the ambassador arranged the executive transport, because of the distance between the cities, and the amount of time he had at his disposal. So it was arranged by the Chinese Government to enable him to travel to different cities…to conduct the business that he was there to conduct.”
The Minister of State has come in for scathing criticisms from several organisations, including the Transparency Institute, which labelled his actions as corrupt.