Legal action looms against “wine sipping” celebrators – Jagdeo

Just over a week after calling for a probe into the celebrations hosted by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, along with top officials of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and British Expert Sam Sittlington, after hauling in several former prominent Government officials for questioning, including former President Bharrat Jagdeo, the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has announced that actions will be taken against those officials who attended the event.

According to Jagdeo at a press conference on Thursday, “I’m not going to belabour the issue but this is not the end of the matter for us. We’re going to pursue this matter here and elsewhere because we believe, in such an issue, there has to be a full investigation.”

The former Head of State also questioned the propriety of a Government Minister meeting with the staff of an independent unit of the Police Force as well a Foreign Advisor, whom Jagdeo said went beyond his advisor role and took on executive functions, to celebrate.

“I know a lot of legal actions would follow against many of these individuals but we are not content about just pursuing it through the courts about these breaches, and will be pursing it elsewhere and at some point in time, you will see how that is revealed,” the General Secretary stated.

Furthermore, Jagdeo noted that the British High Commissioner, Greg Quinn, is yet to respond to statements made by PPP member Anil Nandlall, who had claimed that the Diplomat was also at the celebratory event although he denied that any staff from the High Commission had attended.

“Nandlall wrote and said that he himself, Mr Quinn himself was there and we have not heard a response from Mr Quinn about that,” Jagdeo noted.

Minister Ramjattan had confirmed the celebratory event, telling Guyana Times that they went to “have a glass of wine” to celebrate Dr Sittlington’s work here in Guyana, since he was leaving.

“The fact that I had some wine with Sam on Wednesday evening at Oasis was because I wanted to thank him for the great work he did at SOCU at his farewell function. He left the next day. I certainly will plead his return to High Commissioner Mr Greg Quinn,” Ramjattan posited.

However, in a subsequent statement to clarify Dr Sittlington’s role at SOCU, Quinn pointed out that none of the High Commission’s staff were at the cafe on the Wednesday evening, as is believed.

But a rebuttal statement from Nandlall disclosed that his information reveals otherwise.

“I have consulted with my source who was present at Oasis Café on Wednesday, 10th of March, 2017, and who reiterates that, His Excellency, Mr Quinn, himself and two other staff members of the British High Commission, were present at the establishment,” Nandlall claimed.

Earlier this month, SOCU had detained several former prominent Government officials, including former Prime Minister and President Samuel Hinds, former Ministers Priya Manickchand, Irfaan Ali, Clement Rohee, Robert Persaud and Jennifer Westford, among others in connection to their role in the Pradoville 2 scheme.

The reason these persons are being questioned is because they purchased property at the Sparendaam seawall area, commonly known as “Pradoville 2”.

The current Administration contends the transaction is a criminal act because of the belief the properties were sold below market value. However, the PPP had argued that subsidised housing has always been a part of the legacy of the People’s Progressive Party and that countless Guyanese have benefited from lands sold below market value.

In fact, Nandlall was quoted recently saying that, “Every single house lot in this country was distributed way below the market price; $50,000 for a land in Mon Repos, $200,000 in Eccles, is that the value of the house lot? So let us not get carried away and become victims of the propaganda.”