By Svetlana Marshall

IN light of City Hall’s investigation into the “missing” US$40,000, the Global Friendships Foundation (GFF) has acknowledged receipt of the funds.Last week, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council launched an investigation, after being informed that the Chinese Embassy had, in November 2015, donated US$40,000 or Gy$8M to the municipality to aid in a beautification programme.
However, the Council reportedly had no knowledge of the donation.

In a press statement, GFF, which credits itself as a non-governmental organisation committed to bringing the world to Guyana and Guyana to the world through increased global co-operation, has acknowledged receipt of the US$40,000 grant.
According to the organisation, the grant is being used to execute a number of enhancement and beautification projects in Georgetown.

Though the GFF has acknowledged receipt of the grant, it fell short of detailing particulars of the projects it is currently executing in collaboration with the People’s Republic of China.

The GFF has said it would inform the public “at the appropriate time, when the projects are completed, of the works that were done and the benefits to be derived by the various communities.”

The organization has, however, given assurance that the funds are being properly managed. “The foundation is properly managing the grant, and shall be providing comprehensive financial reports to the embassy, which is its funding agency for this project. The embassy has expressed its satisfaction and approval with the systems and arrangements in place,” the GFF said.

In light of the investigation being conducted by City Hall, the foundation made it clear that it is in no way affiliated with, governed by, or answerable to, the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown or any other organisation or entity.

COMMITTED TO UNITY AND DEVELOPMENT
“It is an independent organisation run by volunteers who are totally committed to bringing together people through culture, sport, and education, and carrying work and projects for the betterment of the society,” GFF said.

GFF is of the opinion that the recent assertion that the grant was “missing” is an attempt to bring the organisation into disrepute. “The foundation, which enjoys positive alliances and functional cooperation with a number of embassies and foreign missions in Guyana, holds itself to the highest ethical standards, and was very distressed and unhappy to learn of suggestions in some quarters that the US$40,000 grant was misplaced, could not be accounted for, or was intended for another agency. These assertions are furthest from the truth, and (were made) with malicious intent — to cause harm and bring into disrepute the good name and high standing of the members of the foundation, both individually and collectively,” GFF stated.

On Thursday, Georgetown Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC) former Protocol Officer Waynewright Orderson were questioned in connection with the US$40,000 grant.
The donation was brought to light last Tuesday after Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Zhang Limin, sought a progress report while paying Mayor Patricia Chase-Green a courtesy call.

Mayor Chase-Green told the Guyana Chronicle it was during that meeting that she was informed by the Chinese Embassy that the Global Friendship Foundation had received US$40,000 on behalf of the municipality.

“They [Chinese Embassy] thought that the foundation was a part of the municipality, but that is not so,” the Mayor told this newspaper.

Asked whether the Guyana Police Force will be called in to assist with the investigation, Chase-Green merely responded that an investigation was ongoing.

“All we are asking is for the individual or individuals to say to the Council what work was done to the tune of $8M, who authorised the work; and if no work was done, where is the money,” she said.