As contentions persist over conflict interest questions centred on two ministers, including Public Telecommunications Minister Catherine Hughes, the Transparency Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI) yesterday said that indicating ignorance about a contract award is not enough and has called for the release of procurement information related to Hughes’ company being awarded a contract to produce Public Service Announcements (PSAs).
In a statement, the local transparency organisation expressed concern about the issues that have placed scrutiny on the actions of Hughes and Valarie Adams-Yearwood, the former junior Housing Minister who has since been reassigned by President David Granger as junior Agriculture Minister with responsibility for Rural Affairs.
Earlier this month, the PPP accused Hughes and her company, Videomega Productions Inc, of impropriety in relation to a $832,200 contract from the Depart-ment of Energy (DoE) for the production of three 60-second television PSAs. In response to these allegations, Hughes said that she had relinquished day-to-day responsibility for the company and was unaware of the contract award.
