The APNU+AFC government is renting the former office of the Opposition Leader, located at Hadfield Street Georgetown, for the sum of $400,000 per month and the building is being used to house the offices of two Presidential Advisors.
During a brief interview on Tuesday, Minister of State, Joe Harmon said the APNU, after being elected to office, continued to pay the rent for the building in the same sum as it did while in opposition and the building is now being used as an annex to the Office of the President.
He confirmed that the Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Gary Best and Presidential Advisor on National Security, Edward Collins along with their staff are currently housed at the Hadfield Street complex.
The building is owned by the Hughes Fields and Stoby law firm.
Prior to the May 11 elections, the building was being rented by the Parliament Office to serve as the office for then Opposition Leader David Granger.
Its transfer to an annex of the President’s Office came to light on Monday when the People’s Progressive Party accused the APNU of being unable to account for some of the assets that were given to the party while in opposition.
PPP Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira claimed that some 13 laptops along with other equipment cannot be located.
However, Harmon is refuting those claims and he told the media that all of the assets which were given to the party while in opposition are available and ready to be handed over to the PPP.
“From the day we moved from that building when we came into office they were entitled to it, they took their own time and now wants the world to move at their pace,” Harmon said.
He claimed that Teixeira never contacted him or President Granger on matters relating to the laptops.
“I don’t know why they want to conduct business on the television. If the issue is about the computers then they can talk to us and clarify those matters,” Harmon added, but still did not disclose the whereabouts of the supposed missing laptops.
“I don’t know what the PPP believes is in there, it’s just some furniture and a photo copy machine. They can get it whenever they want and the Clerk of the National Assembly is aware of it, so I don’t know what hot air they are blowing, if they don’t have anything to say, why don’t they shut up,” Harmon said.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login