MINISTER of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan has been appointed the chair of a National Security Procurement Committee, with the aim of reviewing the procurement of arms and ammunition for the disciplined services.This was announced on Thursday during a post cabinet press briefing hosted by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon who was accompanied by Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman.

The announcement followed questions on whether Lawrence Singh, of Linden Holdings Inc., the businessman in the center of the controversy surrounding the Sussex Street Bond being leased to the government for the storage of pharmaceuticals is the same Lawrence Singh supplying the government with arms and ammunition.

Minister Trotman confirmed that the businessman indeed provides that service to the government.

Over the years, Singh has been providing arms and ammunition to the disciplined services. He is one of several licensed traders in weapons and ammunition. Singh reportedly submitted a memorandum to the government for the supply of arms and ammunition but that approval of same was deferred by Cabinet.

“Cabinet did not turn down a memorandum in the name of Larry Singh, one did come up and some more information has been sought but it has not turned down or refused,” said Trotman.

He explained that Singh, along with other businessmen prior to the APNU-AFC government taking office last May were permitted by the then government to be licenced traders in weapons and ammunition.

“It was discovered that Mr Singh’s Enterprise had been supplying weapons and materials to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).”He said there has been sole sourcing of the arms and ammunition because of the sensitivity of what was being acquired. “We don’t want it to be known what is being purchased,” the Minister stated, while emphasising that it is a matter of national security. “You don’t put things like that out in open bidding. So government continued with that relationship. Of course, like every relationship it is under review,” he added.

Meanwhile, Minister Harmon said that at the level of the National Security Committee a decision was made that under the chairmanship of Minister Ramjattan an examination of the procurement of arms and ammunition be done. The examination of the procurement process is being done “so that any further purchases of arms and ammunition would be certified by that body.”

“It is also in this context that Cabinet asked that the matter be deferred so that the committee chaired by Vice President Ramjattan can look at the specification and other issues and for them to make a pronouncement. It is deferred for the purpose of checking with the Minister of Public Security,” he added.