The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has strongly condemned the actions taken by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to arrest the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo and officials of his former Administration.
In a statement made to Guyana Times, the Region’s Chairman, Julius Faerber said that the actions taken were no less than displeasing and should be condemned.
Faerber noted that the Council would like to show its full support of the Opposition members.
“We at the Council were very displeased to see what occurred and we would like
Region 3 Chairman-Julius Faerber
to join with those who are strongly against what happened.”
Over the past few days, SOCU has arrested and detained several former prominent Government officials, including Jagdeo, the former President and now Opposition Leader; former Prime Minister and President Samuel Hinds; former Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon; former Ministers Priya Manickchand, Irfaan Ali, Clement Rohee, and Dr Jennifer Westford, among others in connection to their role in the Pradoville 2 scheme.
The reason given for the arrest of these persons is the purchase they made of property at the Sparendaam seawall area commonly known as “Pradoville 2”.
The current Administration contends that the transaction is a criminal act because of the belief that the land was sold below market value.
On the day of the arrests, investigators from SOCU, accompanied by ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), went to the Office of the Opposition Leader on Church Street in Queenstown, and escorted Jagdeo to SOCU headquarters on Camp Road.
Minutes earlier, they had escorted Dr Luncheon, from the Opposition Leader’s office, where he had been meeting with Jagdeo.
He was accompanied to SOCU headquarters by the former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, who argued that subsidised housing has always been a part of the legacy of the People’s Progressive Party and countless Guyanese have benefited from lands sold below market value.
However, the members after refusing questioning were shortly released. The matter is ongoing.
