ashni singh waited until bhar.rat jagdeo was out of the country this launch this broadside against giorgio and threaten to expel him from the county. he did not have authorisation from bhar.rat jagdeo. ashni forgot to mention that giorgio is the only white person who supports the rat and his lcds fraud or that he hangs out at oasis cafe which he takes a swipe at. maybe the girls remember next time he orders and prepare a special.
Giorgio Valentini & World Bank Country office should reconsider its priorities – Finance Minister
Georgetown, GINA, June 26, 2010
Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, said that the World Bank’s country office in Guyana should engage in some serious introspection and reconsider its own priorities, before venturing into the public domain and commenting on matters beyond the competence of its resident staff namely Comrade Georgio Valentini. The Finance Minister was commenting on the June 25, Kaieteur News’ front page headline which quoted the World Bank’s Country Representative Giorgio Valentini as saying that the World Bank was never approached for support to the Amaila Falls project. [“We never received a request from Guyana,” said Valentini, while explaining that the World Bank would only get involved in a project if it is asked to.]
Minister Singh stated that, for years, the World Bank has been a highly valued development partner to Guyana, operating a small and efficient country office, in modest premises within the UNDP country office, with a small staff of professionals dedicated to the task of aiding development in Guyana.
In recent months, however, the Minister stated that he has observed a worrying trend of shifting priorities, with the Bank’s office being relocated to a grand former colonial residence opposite Oasis Cafe, one of the city’s most fashionable and expensive watering holes, the recruitment of new staff including prominently a communications officer, and frequent forays into the media by the head of the country office on all manner of subjects.
“I would be much happier if the country office of the Bank expended more effort to increase the Bank’s work and its development impact in Guyana, instead of trying to increase their own visibility and creature comforts. Of all our development partners, the Bank has one of the smallest project portfolios, but one of the largest offices and, it would appear, one of the largest appetites for publicity and self-promotion, even if only recently acquired. Guyana still faces considerable development challenges, and we need the assistance of the World Bank, we don’t need grandstanding by Giorgio Valentini and the staff in country,” the Minister stated.
In connection with Valentini’s statement that the Bank never received a request from Guyana for support for the Amaila Falls project, the Minister offered two responses.
Firstly, he stated that Giorgio Valentini seemed to be unaware that the project is a private sector project, with international investors as the project sponsors. Any request for support would come in the first instance from the private sponsors of the project and not from the State, although the State would be likely to support any such request.
Secondly, the Minister stated, Giorgio Valentini should have acquainted himself with the facts before offering an uninformed response. The project sponsors have been engaged in discussions with the Bank’s private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and other institutions within the World Bank Group, along with several other sources of financial and non-financial support for the project. Had the Giorgio Valentini bothered to ascertain the facts, he would not have offered such an uninformed response, which only served to feed Kaieteur News’ apparently insatiable appetite for sensational headlines.
The Minister emphasised that Guyana has valued greatly the work of the Bank over the years, but is firmly of the view that the Bank’s mandate in Guyana would be better served by greater prudence on the part of its staff than has been displayed by its country office recently, including the most recent media jaunt by the Giorgio Valentini.
“The emphasis must be on delivery money faster and maximising development impact, rather than on increasing visibility and raising the profile of Giorgio Valentini,” the Minister said.
Georgetown, GINA, June 26, 2010
Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, said that the World Bank’s country office in Guyana should engage in some serious introspection and reconsider its own priorities, before venturing into the public domain and commenting on matters beyond the competence of its resident staff. The ance Minister was commenting on the June 25, Kaieteur News’ front page headline which quoted the World Bank’s Country Representative Giorgio Valentini as saying that the World Bank was never approached for support to the Amaila Falls project.
Minister Singh stated that, for years, the World Bank has been a highly valued development partner to Guyana, operating a small and efficient country office, in modest premises within the UNDP country office, with a small staff of professionals dedicated to the task of aiding development in Guyana.
In recent months, however, the Minister stated that he has observed a worrying trend of shifting priorities, with the Bank’s office being relocated to a grand former colonial residence opposite one of the city’s most fashionable cafés, the recruitment of new staff including prominently a communications officer, and frequent forays into the media by the head of the country office on all manner of subjects.
“I would be much happier if the country office of the Bank expended more effort to increase the Bank’s work and its development impact in Guyana, instead of trying to increase their own visibility and creature comforts. Of all our development partners, the Bank has one of the smallest project portfolios, but one of the largest offices and, it would appear, one of the largest appetites for publicity and self-promotion, even if only recently acquired. Guyana still faces considerable development challenges, and we need the assistance of the World Bank, we don’t need grandstanding by their staff in country,” the Minister stated.
In connection with Valentini’s statement that the Bank never received a request from Guyana for support for the Amaila Falls project, the Minister offered two responses.
Firstly, he stated that the Bank’s Representative seemed to be unaware that the project is a private sector project, with international investors as the project sponsors. Any request for support would come in the first instance from the private sponsors of the project and not from the State, although the State would be likely to support any such request.
Secondly, the Minister stated, the Bank’s Representative should have acquainted himself with the facts before offering an uninformed response. The project sponsors have been engaged in discussions with the Bank’s private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and other institutions within the World Bank Group, along with several other sources of financial and non-financial support for the project. Had the Representative bothered to ascertain the facts, he would not have offered such an uninformed response, which only served to feed Kaieteur News’ apparently insatiable appetite for sensational headlines.
The Minister emphasised that Guyana has valued greatly the work of the Bank over the years, but is firmly of the view that the Bank’s mandate in Guyana would be better served by greater prudence on the part of its staff than has been displayed by its country office recently, including the most recent media jaunt by the Bank’s Representative. “The emphasis must be on improving delivery of assistance and maximising development impact, rather than on increasing visibility and raising personal profile,” the Minister said.
why is these articles so dame obviously PNC oriented what is wrong with the lcds what if people get some draw back from it oh or did u forget that robert “old thief”corbintook money to buy a barge and up to a day like today the barge or the money cannot be acounted for what about a PNC supporter in albouystown who during the PNC reign sole a lot of property from indians in guyana and who became rich and also killed his brother in broad daylight and nothing came out of the story what about errol “taps” butcher who reigned supreme in alnouystown during the PNC regime there are so much more that u people are turning a blind eye to.
It’s not a fucking history blog. It’s about the present day. Now, not two decades ago.
Fuck the PPP, bun up in flames!!! and the same for all downpressors regardless of race or political affiliation.
and what about odinga lumumba who beat up PPP indians?
Kwame Mc Coy who helped corbin and the PNC with destruction of georegtown.
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