Why did the government continue with Synergy after 2002?

Dear Editor,

The more I read and think of this mess the more I ask myself: who is really benefiting from all of this? The people of this nation deserve better. The government had a due diligence review of Synergy’s proposal in June 2002 by Kaehne Consulting Ltd of Vancouver, Canada. This is a company the government has relied on heavily before and after this fateful review and their website attests to this fact. Kaehne concluded that Synergy does not possess “…the financial or technical capability or the project development experience to develop the Amaila project.” Yet the Government of Guyana continued with Synergy. This is recklessness. Synergy has at every turn been exposed as lacking yet it is awarded a US$15 million contract from this administration.

This is what happens when pride and personal aggrandisement overpower professionalism, responsibility, accountability and competence. The government had an opportunity since 2002 in the light of Kaehne’s findings to swallow its pride, accept the proof and ditch Synergy. It did not. That leads me to the conclusion that the administration had a burning reason to continue, and the people of this nation need to know the reason. I hope these letters get people talking. The question is why did the government not realize in 2002 after notification by its consultant that Synergy should not be involved in this project at any level?

The impression is given that the current decision to award the road contract to Synergy, which is highly questionable, is little more than a reward for Fip Motilall’s perseverance. Competence requires the courage to know you’re wrong and admit it. When a government allows itself to be hoodwinked its competence must be assaulted. This entire fiasco reminds me of similarly reprehensible actions under the PNC. Massive projects cannot be given to friends. Not every overseas-based businessman claiming to be competent should automatically be trusted as capable of building a massive hydroelectric project. The urge to show progress to a critical nation must not encourage travesties. These projects such as the building of access roads must be given to entities with the requisite experience, experience and clout. Synergy is not one of those entities.

Yours faithfully,
Michael Maxwell