Amidst the headlines splashed across the daily newspapers to herald charges against long time National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) head Winston Brassington, an important element overlooked was the human side of prosecution.
That human side involves Brassington being separated from his family and the life he built in the United States after leaving the agency he spent over two decades serving. In an interview with this publication, Brassington recounted being forced to miss his eldest son, Alexander’s graduation from college due to his trial in Guyana.
“My son graduated from university yesterday (Friday). And I couldn’t be there because I had to come to Guyana. And SOCU (Special Organised Crime Unit) wanted to question us. And then with the station bail, we have to report back on Monday. I couldn’t reasonably go to the graduation.”
Brassington’s son, Alexander Brassington, displays his degree after graduating Magna Cum laude with distinction
Brassington recalled that his son attended Queen’s College and attained a good grade in his Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). He would go on to attend Troy University in Alabama, USA, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics and Mathematics on Friday. “He went to Troy University on a scholarship. He went to QC. He did very well in his SATs and secured a scholarship. He’s 21. He’s my first child. I’m really upset that I missed that,” Brassington related.
Brassington, along with former Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, were arraigned on charges of allegedly selling several plots of land on the East Coast of Demerara to several entities. The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) brought the charges against the two former Government officials early last month. What followed after was a rush by the pair to voluntarily return to Guyana.
