Dear Editor,
I see that President Jagdeo has announced the award of a US$15 million contract for preparatory infrastructural work re the Amalia Falls Hydroelectric power Project which is estimated to cost in excess of US$450 million. I say good for Guyana. At least things are starting to move again since 1998. But I, like a lot of Guyanese, am skeptical about the company this contract was awarded to. The name sounds impressive, Synergy Holdings Inc. And the fact that it is a “US-based company” makes it that much more impressive.
In America though, it is the easiest thing to form and register a corporation. You just access the State Corporation division, print out a one-page Articles of Incorporation, fill it in with the required information, pay the filing fee (between $100.00-200.00 depending on the state), follow the guidelines and ‘walla,’ you are a US-based corporation.
From public records it appears that Synergy Holdings Inc was first registered on September 22, 1997 in the State of Minnesota, just before the so-called “joint venture” with Harza Engineering Company with respect to the feasibility study and environmental impact assessment. On December 9, 2005 said company was registered in the State of Florida. The Articles of Incorporation on file show Makeshwar F Motilall as the President and Director; the purpose, to engage in the business of development and sales involving renewable energy resource and including real estate; number of shares of stock 10,000 shares of stated value $10.00 per share.
Now if the Government of Guyana is awarding this company a US$15 million contract, the least it could do is ask for the submission of 1) the most recent US federal tax return; 2) the most recent audited financial statement: and 3) evidence of relevant projects engaged in over the last five years. Was this done?
The federal tax return and financial statement is confidential to the company, but evidence of relevant projects is not. The evidence disclosed from public records in Florida tend to establish Mr Makeshwar F Motilall more as a real estate investor and manager based on his involvement with over a dozen real estate companies in which he is either president, director or secretary/treasurer.
How did Mr Makeshwar Motilall and Synergy Holdings Inc get this contract? Are they the best person and company to get the job done? Let the people be told.
Yours faithfully,
Shawn Mangru
