JUST two weeks ago the Private Sector Commission (PSC) had called on Finance Minister Winston Jordan to provide “empirical evidence” regarding his statements on the impact of the proceeds of drugs on the economy, but Minister Jordan in is no way prepared to withdraw his remarks.

In fact, the minister is surprised that the PSC, in the person of its acting chairman Deodat Indar, even bothered to write him when his remarks were not directed to the commission. Jordan, in a response to a Stabroek News editorial criticising the current government’s administrative capacity, had stated that much of the government’s current struggles come as a result of the shortcomings of the previous administration.

He expounded that, among other things, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) left behind a “deformed and broken economy”, one which the present administration must now work to fix.

On Wednesday at a press conference, Jordan revealed the sources of his stance on the issue, stating: “Before I said that there were two or three studies done by Professor Clive Thomas. The evidence had been produced by Professor Clive Thomas. Before I even said it in 2012, a similar statement was made by a high-level official of the PPP and it’s there, it’s reported in a number of newspapers. I went back, I researched it, and it’s on the internet. The name of the individual is there on the internet and everything.”

Continuing, the finance minister reiterated his position on the matter confidently saying: “I will tell you this much, where the economy is today is proof, positive, that the economy was being run by drugs, by significant input from drugs.”

Regarding the response he received from the PSC whereby the body said that it would be “grateful to be briefed” “on the assertions made,” Jordan said that he is unsure why such correspondence came as the general private sector was not singled out.

“I never referred to Private Sector Commission; I never referred to Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry; I never referred to Guyana Manufacturers’ and Services Association; I never referred to any private sector organisation. I referred to some in the private sector who benefited significantly from nefarious activities,” he clarified.

However, in surmising how he viewed the situation, the minister continued.
“If, as ‘Bob’ says, ‘who the cap fits’ then that’s fine. Because I was amazed, to be quite honest, when I got a letter from the gentleman asking me to provide proof to the private sector, I was amazed!” Jordan chuckled, adding: “So I’m doing budgets and all kinds of different things and I don’t really have time to waste.”