SARU Executive under fire for ‘threats’ against Jagdeo, PPP figures

– Party considering options for redress


State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) Executive Member Eric Phillips has come under fire from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), with the Party contending that a recent statement he made constituted a “threat” against the lives of former President Bharrat Jagdeo and other top Opposition officials and their families.

In the statement that started it all, Phillips warned Jagdeo to be careful because if anyone in his family or a family member of a SARU or Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) employee was killed, attacked or put at risk, “he (Jagdeo) needs to understand that he, his Cabinet and their families (bar none) will be at the same risk”.SARU
The ominous statement, which Phillips posted publicly on social media on March 10, went on to warn that “the only difference is that the response will be significantly disproportionate and very cruel”.
In its response to the Government official’s statement, the PPP observed that the “irrational publication has placed the lives of every former PPP Cabinet member and every current PPP parliamentarian and their respective families in jeopardy”.
The parliamentary Opposition made it clear it was taking the threat “most seriously”. The Party also revealed that it was considering “a number of courses of action, upon which it will embark to address it”.
These options, the Party added, will be revealed in due course.
Phillips had claimed in the statement that the former President was trying to put his life at risk by “constantly repeating my name on TV in Berbice that I am the intellectual henchman for SOCU, because they were picked up this week and questioned on misfeasance and conspiracy to steal State assets”.
According to Phillips, the PPP General Secretary has been telling constituents that Phillips is from the African Cultural Development Association (ACDA) “so I am after Indians”. In fact, Phillips has history with ACDA, serving as an Executive Member. He was also appointed as Chairman of Guyana’s Reparations Committee by former President Donald Ramotar.
SARU is tasked with carrying out investigations into claims of corruption involving Guyana’s State assets. At its head is Professor Clive Thomas.
Phillips’ utterances come just days after former President Jagdeo and former Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, were arrested and taken to SOCU’s headquarters for questioning. Calling the move an attempt to instil fear in the Opposition, Jagdeo had vowed afterwards that the Party would not be intimidated into silence, in the face of poor governance.

Post
The post featuring the statement, in its entirety, which Phillips made

Other persons who were detained and questioned were General Manager of the Guyana Gold Board and daughter of former President Donald Ramotar, Lisaveta Ramotar; former Natural Resources Minister Robert Persaud; former President of the Private Sector Commission, Ramesh Dookhoo; former Secretary to NICIL, Marcia Nadir-Sharma; and the son of former Labour Minister Dr Nanda Gopaul, Dr Ghansham Singh.
Even more were detained the next day, including former Prime Minister and President, Samuel Hinds, as well as former Ministers Priya Manickchand, Irfaan Ali, Clement Rohee, and Dr Jennifer Westford, for the most part in connection with their role in the Pradoville 2 land allocation.At first, SOCU had requested several officials, including current parliamentarians to visit its headquarters for questioning, but former Attorney General and lead lawyer for most of the Opposition members, Anil Nandlall, had responded by informing the authority that the interrogation can take place at the Office of the Opposition Leader on Church Street.
When asked about the arrests during his televised programme, President David Granger had explained that while he regretted the way the former President had been treated, he would not be interfering with the work of SOCU.
Moreover, Granger pointed out that the Guyana Police Force has the right to invite people of any rank to go to SOCU headquarters during an investigation, and he added that it was not possible for SOCU to visit every single former Minister, but added that an exception could have been made in the case of Jagdeo.
After SOCU’s actions, Police Commissioner (ag) David Ramnarine had disclaimed all foreknowledge of the arrest. It had only been late last month that Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had stated that top former PPP Ministers would be charged.
According to reports, Ramjattan had said that SOCU had completed its investigations into the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). He had added that special prosecutors were perusing the findings.