Charrandas in deal to buy US$1M in gold
Expelled Government MP Charrandas Persaud
Expelled Government MP Charrandas Persaud

THE Guyana Police Force has launched an investigation into a report that expelled Alliance for Change (AFC) Member of Parliament Charrandas Persaud had initiated a plan to purchase approximately US$1M worth in gold.

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan declined to comment on the matter, however, a senior government official has confirmed that there is an active investigation into the report filed.

According to News Source, an online news outfit, Persaud, in early December, while the National Assembly was debating the 2019 National Budget, had made contact with a friend of his, who has strong ties in the Gold Mining Industry, to have the gold supplied.

Screenshots with a number belonging to the embattled politician, who before his expulsion defected from government and voted in support of the opposition-sponsored no confidence motion, have surfaced, and are being used as evidence in the case.

One of the screenshots provided to the police (News Source Photo)

“I need some REAL casreep…not the diluted one…let me know,” one of the messages stated according to News Room. The messages between Persaud and his friend concerning the purchase of the gold took place between December 6 and 13, days before the no-confidence motion was debated and moved against government.

On Sunday, the Public Security Minister, during a televised programme on the National Communications Network (NCN, said that the police are investigating and closing in on the case of bribery of former government MP.
“We are now learning that there is absolutely a connection with bribery, of some big sum of money… money which I understand he had wanted to transfer overseas and all of that,” Ramjattan said.

He said based on intelligence received, Persaud, who has since travelled to Canada where he a citizen, was compromised. It is believed that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/Civic) was involved.

“It is clearly a case where he is compromised and obviously those who moved the motion, or at least one person who moved the motion, knew about this. They knew that they had Charrandas in the bag. Now that is not the kind of democratic process we want for this country. You had to know you had somebody in the bag,” Ramjattan said.

The People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) last week said Persaud was reportedly bribed by the opposition to vote with them on a no-confidence motion.
“It should be noted that Charrandas Persaud himself acknowledges the bribe by asking ‘what is wrong if I get paid?’ In his own words, he has admitted his embrace to the treacherous PPP culture of getting rich through corruption and lawlessness.

The Guyanese people have seen through this plot and there is no doubt that in any elections the PPP will be defeated by APNU+AFC,” PNC/R Executive Member Norton told a news conference.

According to the PNC/R the Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo allegedly colluded with forces in Trinidad and mobilised resources to bribe a sitting member of Parliament.
Weighing in on the matter Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo on Friday said that Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Barton Scotland will have to review allegations and the vote by former MP.

“If a vote in the National Assembly was procured by unlawful means to overthrow a constitutionally elected government that will have serious implications and the Speaker will have to address that issue. If you had a member of parliament who knew that he had lost confidence in his party or his slate, he should have indicated to the house that he no longer wanted to support his slate and he wanted to endorse another slate so that the house would know how to deal with that situation,” the prime minister said.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.