PM defends Amaila transfer

Prime Minister Sam Hinds yesterday said that there was nothing sinister behind Synergy boss Fip Motilall’s decision to transfer his licence to develop the Amaila hydropower plant to Sithe Global, saying that this is a common international practice in the construction of large projects.

Hinds, when contacted last evening, told Stabroek News that as far as he is aware, Sithe Global has not yet made any payment to Synergy Holdings, since the licence was transferred. The government, meanwhile, also emphasised that that the transfer did not occur as a result of a sale—as was reported by this newspaper—explaining that Hinds, who has responsibility for the electricity sector, authorised the  transfer of the interim licence from Synergy Holdings to Sithe Global. “No compensation was paid for the transfer of the licence between Synergy Holdings Inc. and Sithe Global.