Bel Air businessman ‘apologises’ for damage done – Govt

Controversial “Go Invest Elsewhere” ad

A Bel Air Gardens, Georgetown, businessman has apologised for the controversial “Go Invest Elsewhere” ad that was published in two local newspapers two weeks ago, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said on Thursday.
He told reporters at the post-Cabinet press briefing that businessman Siri Persaud, General Manager of GuyGas located at Lot 9 Bel Air Gardens, took responsibility for the advertisement, which urged investors in Guyana to go elsewhere.
In a letter addressed to President David Granger, the businessman expressed his “deep regret, saying that he was only trying to highlight his “sheer frustration” with the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), whom he noted failed to fairly and equally represent him as an investor in Guyana.
“It was never meant to dissuade any investor, local or foreign, from investing in Guyana but rather to highlight shortcomings and encourage public discussion concerning improvements to that important investment agency,” the letter stated.
The businessman went on to apologise for the “corresponding effect including any embarrassment” the ad would have caused.
The half-page ad was published on the opening of the inaugural petroleum summit GIPEX which had scores of local and foreign investors attending to explore local investment opportunities.
The ad, which read “INVESTORS BEWARE, GOINVEST ELSEWHERE”, was carried in the Kaieteur News and Stabroek News on February 7 and 8, 2018 and had no attributions as to whom the author was.
Nevertheless, it had caught the attention of Government and several of its members had condemned the ad, especially at a time when Guyana is trying to create an investor-friendly environment.
Meanwhile, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin on Thursday condemned the actions by the businessman, saying he is both “disappointed” and “deeply disturbed”.
“It is my view that the Guyanese public in general and the business community in particular view this as a despicable and distasteful attempt to scare away investors and embarrass our country,” Gaskin said.
The Business Minister went on to disclosed that one week prior to the publication of the ad, he received an email from Persaud who indicated his intent to release the ad during the petroleum expo but added that it could have been avoided had a certain matter been resolved before the weekend.