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“I am completely unaware of APNU having taken any public position in support of Amaila” – Carl GreenidgeThe political opposition remains deeply divided on the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project despite pleas from the US Ambassador to Guyana,Leonte Carroo Dolphins Jersey, D. Brent Hardt for consensus or risk damage to future investments in the country.Financial spokesperson for APNU, Carl Greenidge, in his response to the envoy’s statement firstly pointed out that the Amaila Project is an undertaking in which a US-based firm stands to benefit substantially.APNU’s Carl GreenidgeAmbassador Hardt had said that the demise of the project is likely to diminish Guyana’s future attractiveness to international investors,Wilbert Montgomery Eagles Jersey, and make future investments in the energy sector riskier and more costly.Greenidge, a former Finance Minister, responded by saying “we also are aware that the consequences of a badly negotiated major project such as Amaila can be even more deleterious than delays caused by the requirement to effect improvements in the architecture.”On the matter of the Ambassador’s perception of implied support for the project by the opposition political parties, Greenidge told Kaieteur News, “I am completely unaware of APNU having taken any public position in support of Amaila and am intrigued as to how the Ambassador came to the conclusion that until recently APNU had been supporting the Amaila hydroelectric project.”Greenigde said APNU is desirous of seeing the development of hydroelectricity as part of an integrated package of renewable energy development in Guyana.“Fortunately, Amaila is not the only site available to Guyana in this regard…So support for hydro does not automatically mean support for Amaila.”Greenidge stated that one of the challenges of being an honest broker in such a charged atmosphere, “is to stick as closely to the facts as glue and to treat all parties, even those outside of the Executive with respect…It is an issue which the Private Sector Commission leadership, for example, will also have to grapple and overcome if it is ever to be a credible voice on important matters in Guyana.”AFC Leader Khemraj RamjattanGreenidge said that APNU has noted with great interest, the Ambassador’s comments on the virtues of the Amaila hydro project and its future benefits saying that “APNU is even more impressed with his ability to identify the national interest and the position of the various political parties in relation to that national interest.”Ambassador Hardt in his now well publicized support for the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project said that the matter, “suddenly became enmeshed in political battles that had little to do with the potential of the project to generate cheaper, more reliable, and more environmentally friendly energy for decades to come.Greenidge in response said that APNU is “disappointed at his conclusion in this regard, but since the Embassy has been following the national debate on other matters central to our fundamental rights as citizens and we look forward to having the benefit of similarly candid and public views on key outstanding constitutional matters such as the appointment of judges, the confirmation of a Chief Justice and Chancellor of the Judiciary, and Chief of Police.”According to Greenidge,Josh Lambo Chargers Jersey, a number of studies have shown that issues such as discrimination and corruption in the award of contracts and appointments to public service, alongside the absence of an Ombudsman and a Public Procurement Commission,Marcus Smith Eagles Jersey, red tape and a burdensome tax system, are key contributors to the flight of skills, the relatively low levels of Foreign Direct Investment in Guyana and investors’ attitude to and confidence in Guyana.On the matter of the Parliamentary support that was called for by Sithe Global and to which the Ambassador cited,Mychal Kendricks Eagles Jersey, Greenidge said that with the imprimatur of the US Embassy regarding the net benefits of the project, the President of Sithe Global should no longer find it necessary to take the unprecedented step of issuing an ultimatum to the Parties in the National Assembly regarding the need for unanimity in approving a project, “the details of which have not been laid before the Assembly for either consideration or approval.”According to Greenidge, “when the Embassy is able to advise the Government of Guyana on the practices of the USA regarding the process for approval of similarly critical national projects, we may move a step closer to arriving at the consensus he so sincerely desires.”US Ambassador to Guyana, D. Brent HardtMeanwhile Greenidge also used the opportunity to respond to the Private Sector Commission who had accused “self-styled pundits” of harming the hydropower project by peddling in the media uninformed opinions and basing their analyses on incomplete or outdated information.“Who are the real pundits with whom the PSC has consulted? The same pundits that informed them that the VAT is a luxury tax?”Meanwhile, Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan,Wes Hopkins Eagles Jersey, yesterday held out that “the next generation of Guyanese will be in serious crisis as a result of what has happened here.”Ramjattan in an invited comment said that he concurs with the pronouncements of US envoy that the demise of the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project will damage the country’s future investments.According to Ramjattan, this is among the reasons his party voted the way it did in Parliament recently,Jordan Matthews Eagles Jersey, so that the project could be allowed to reach its next stage – due diligence by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).Ramjattan said that while there are legitimate concerns raised by individuals such as Financial Analysts, Christopher Ram,Dion Sims Dolphins Jersey, Ramon Gaskin and Anand Goolsarran among others, these would have been fully addressed by the IDB.Ramjattan said putting together such a large project and then allowing it to fail will send the wrong signal to future foreign investors in Guyana. He said that the Amaila Falls Project holds the potential of reducing generation cost for electricity in Guyana adding that “Diesel, Wartsila and a rotten GPL, is poison for Guyana.”The AFC Leader believes that the Ambassador “hit the nail on the head” with his comments and reminded that prior to the vote in the National Assembly, he had communicated this to APNU.Ramjattan also questioned, even if Guyana were to secure another equity partner willing to invest the required US$158M for the project,Kenjon Barner Eagles Jersey, “would they have the necessary expertise?”The AFC Leader believes that in light of the Amaila debacle, future investments could also see massive rates of return being asked for, given the risk of doing businesses in Guyana.“The Amaila Project will serve as history in Guyana,” said Ramjattan, adding that before a company looks to plug any money into Guyana they undertake investigations to ascertain the risk of doing business here.