Leader of the Opposition Joseph Harmon yesterday offered support for a “policy on gifting” in public office even as he accused the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic of hypocrisy over their public condemnation of former Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson.
“I think there should be a clear policy…I trust in the fullness of time with the strengthening of our democracy we are able to have clear guidelines on gifts and to what extent you can receive gifts in public office and what ought to be done with gifts above a certain level when you leave that public office,” Harmon told a virtual press conference yesterday.
The politician stressed that any such policy should receive the “imprimatur” of the National Assembly so as to be enforceable. He however refused to condemn the actions of his colleague who has been accused along with former Junior Minister Annette Ferguson of accepting personal gifts worth millions of dollars from public agencies.
His position echoes that of the Alliance for Change which has publicly stood behind Patterson who is its General Secretary.
“The larger issue here might be that a complete re-examination of gifting with a view to establishing clearer policy guidelines on the issue of Ministerial gifts from Ministries, Agencies and Departments is needed to be done by the government,” the AFC said in a statement last week.
The party added that such a policy is required to ensure accountability and transparency.
Patterson has acknowledged that he had received gifts from government agencies under his purview but he rejected any accusation of wrongdoing and said he assumed that the purchases were in compliance with procurement guidelines.
It was reported that a preliminary review of other agencies covered by Patterson’s then ministry revealed numerous purchases for him and his then junior minister, Ferguson.
On one occasion, Ferguson’s personal assistant advised where the purchase should be made and the date it should be delivered, documents seen by Stabroek News revealed.
Noted too was that last year, during the elections impasse, gifts were still being purchased by Ministry of Public Infrastructure agencies. The Transport and Harbours Department in May, purchased jewellery for $33,500 and a bottle of perfume for $14,000 as a present for Patterson. With VAT included, the items came up to $54,720.
Meanwhile, the Maritime Administration Department’s (MARAD) gift cost some $387,486 and was purchased from Steve’s Jewellery on May 2, 2020.
MARAD on April 4, 2020, also requested and had a cheque drawn for $704,292 to pay Steve’s Jewellery for “birthday gifts”. Documents show the cheque was drawn on May 4, 2020.
According to Harmon since there is no actual enforceable guidelines on gifting the former Ministers cannot be accused of breaching these guidelines.
He like Patterson highlighted the fact that “gifting” is the norm.
“The question about unaccounted gifts is something the PPP have been masters of for years,” he declared.
