In 2018, Videomega Productions — the company owned by Public Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes — was awarded over $10M in government contracts, of which just over $3M came from Hughes’ very own ministry.
This information was confirmed by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and Guyana Standard has seen evidence, in the possession of the PPP, that VideoMega is a beneficiary of contract from Hughes’ Ministry as well as from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Ministry of Business, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Public Health, and Ministry of Education.
PPP said, “Guyanese remember that Minister Hughes, on April 15, 2019, said, ‘I have taken no decision in my capacity as Minister of Public Telecommunications or in my personal capacity which has been the subject of a conflict of interest.'”
PPP said that it noted that “in the space of just about four months, Videomega Production cashed in on over $10.3M.”
The PPP revealed that, in Hughes’ Ministry of Public Telecommunications, three contracts were awarded to Videomega Productions:
1. June 4, 2018 – Advertisement of Vacancies – $939,738
2. June 25, 2018 – Facebook Page – $119,670
3. September 21, 2018 – CTU/ITC Roadshow 2018 – $2,291,128
Videomega Productions also benefited from another five contracts awarded by other ministries.
Ministry of Public Infrastructure:
4. September 19, 2018 – Television advertisement – $256,500
Ministry of Business:
5. September 28, 2018 – Video for Caribbean Tourism Diaspora Forum – $198,800
Ministry of Education:
6. July 12, 2018 – Video Production – $1,487,700
Ministry of Natural Resources:
7. May 25, 2018 – Artwork – $1,420,115
Ministry of Public Health:
8. July 27, 2018 – Advertisement – $3,592,236