PRESIDENT Jagdeo yesterday dismissed allegations that he has a personal/working relationship with some of the owners of New Global Consults Inc.

The New York-based company is named in the awarding of a US$220,500 contract for the printing of updated volumes of the Laws of Guyana, a project that is under a full scale probe by the Office of the President.

Responding to the allegation at a news conference at the Office of the President, Mr. Jagdeo said he has a number of friends as well as a Government side, and that persons should not presume anything.

Told too of another report in a U.S.-based newspaper which carried a photo and a report stating that one Kawall Totaram, one of the company's representatives, had handed over US$163,000 to him (President) for the PPP/C campaign in the 2001 elections, President Jagdeo remarked, "I wish I had that money. I wish I had received US$136,000 from anyone."

He admitted though that there was one group which offered a similar sum, but said it was never taken as the Government and the country has a dispute with the company.

"No. I did not receive any money, and especially that sum from anyone, especially Mr. Totaram.

"In fact, in the whole campaign and all the fund raisers, I did not personally take any money...people say to me `I have X amount of money to pledge' (and) I'd say `give it to the party'," the President explained.