Tempers flared in the National Assembly this afternoon as the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand was grilled about the ownership of Centaur Investments Incorporated and whether the company has been providing services to the Education Ministry. 

The National Assembly’s Committee of Supply was considering the $119.2M in advances that were utilized by the Ministry of Education to cater for increased security charges, when the issue came up.

Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul asked the Education Minister to provide clarity on any ties she may have to Centaur Investments Incorporated

The question did not sit well with Minister Manickchand who told the Committee that she was tempted to not only deal with the message, but also the messenger.

Minister Manickchand said she has absolutely no ties to Centaur Investments Inc.  

“I have no ties, I have no ties to any security company anywhere in this country, none. Neither me nor my husband, my brother, my sister, my parents are dead, none. Absolutely none,” Minister Manickchand said. 

She said the Centaur Investment Inc was never issued any contracts by the Ministry of Education under her leadership. 

Minister Manickchand, however, called on Parliamentarians to refrain from bringing “koka top gyaff” into the House. 

“Bringing into this House, the koka top gyaff that is now allowed on social media because of freedoms is something that we would want to guard against. But I would answer very clearly. After I saw that myself, I enquired into the ownership of Centaur and it is owned by a young Guyanese of African descent name Quacy Munroe. We are very happy in the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government to offer opportunities for growth and thriving to young Guyanese of all ethnicities and particularly of African descent,” the Education Minister said.

Munroe is known to have close ties to the governing party and the Vice President.

MP Mahipaul said he was within his right to raise the issue in the National Assembly since it has been moved around the public space.

“I just wanted to know if you had any ties because that information was in the public space…I was merely asking Mr Speaker. I saw something in the public space,” he said. 

An agitated Education Minister said the National Assembly should not have to deal with “street corner gyaff”.

It was then that the Speaker, Manzoor Nadir injected, telling the Education Minister to take that line of “answering outside of the House.”

But Government Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira jumped to the Education Minister’s defense, telling the Speaker that MP Mahipaul should retract his questions and statements before being permitted to ask another question.

Standing to his feet, the Speaker made it clear that he will not tolerate a breakdown of the session. He said the two Parliamentarians displayed a clear disregard for the Honourable House.

He told the Assembly that when the Speaker stands to his feet, everyone should “sit and shut up”.

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