Court orders Finance Minister to pay up or face jail time

DIPCON’S US$2.2M payment

The hearings into the civil matter involving Trinidadian company, DIPCON Engineering Services and Finance Minister, Winston Jordan on Monday came to a conclusion before Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, as final rulings into the matter were made at the Demerara High Court.

Justice Sewnarine-Beharry, in delivering her decision, ruled that the applicant (DIPCON) recover from the respondent (Minister Jordan) costs in excess of US$2.2 million together with interest at a rate of 4 per cent per annum by July 8, 2019, which was outlined by the court.
The High Court judge further ruled that the Finance Minister’s failure to comply with the court orders will result in him being liable to imprisonment until the judgment is paid in full.
At the commencement of the hearing of the legal proceeding, Attorney General, Basil Williams had made an application for an extension of 14 days (two weeks) for the State to serve and file a defence into the case challenging the Finance Minister. The said application was accepted.
This application was made in light of DIPCON moving to the court over non-payment of some US$2.2 million which the Government was ordered to pay back in 2015. The legal proceedings were this time brought against the Finance Minister as he failed to adhere to the court order, compelling the State to pay the aforementioned amount of money to the Trinidadian company.
In 2015, the case, heard by Justice Rishi Persaud, concluded with a judgment in favour of the company, however, the Trinidadian company claimed that Minister Jordan did not take steps to make the payments.
As such, the company’s lawyers have applied to the court for an administrative order to compel the Minister to pay.
Justice Persaud had ruled that DIPCON recover from the Government of Guyana, the amount in excess of US$2.2 million together with interest of six per cent per annum from February 10, 2009, to October 21, 2015, and thereafter at a rate of four per cent per annum until fully paid.
It was also ordered that Government pay DIPCON costs to the tune of $1,200,000 along with a stay of execution for six weeks from the date of the ruling.