THE legal challenge regarding a loan agreement inked between the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of Guyana (GoG) will have its first hearing in the High Court today.The challenge, being advanced by an executive member of the political coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Mr Carl Greenidge, seeks to have proceeds under the loan agreement between the GoG and the IDB paid into the Consolidated Fund, and that those moneys may not be withdrawn without the authority of an Appropriations Act. The challenge further seeks a

Conservatory Order restraining the Minister of Finance from spending the proceeds of the said loan until the substantive matter is heard and determined.

In the latter part of February, the IDB approved two loan applications for Guyana to the total value of US$32.16M (Gy$4.4B). One of those loans is aimed at supporting Government’s security programme, and the other is aimed at supporting the country’s environmental initiatives.

Greenidge formally filed the proceedings on March 20. Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Mr Anil Nandlall, and Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh are the named defendants in the matter. Both ministers have maintained that the challenge is without merit.

UNFAIRLY TARGETED
Former finance minister and president, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, commenting last Saturday on the actions taken by Dr Singh during his tenure as finance minister, said Dr Singh has been targeted as part of a “vicious campaign” by a particular group of politicians in the Opposition, who “can’t have their way” in the wider scheme of Guyana’s financial

management.

“Effectively, what they are trying to do is shut down the country so people could not be paid; there wouldn’t be funding for many programmes and so on. It so happens that he is the minister of finance. Had it been any other person, they would have gone after that person,” Dr Jagdeo said.

The former president added that the political Opposition has made their challenges to Dr Singh’s actions into a matter of accountability, as opposed to what it really is — a disagreement over procedure.

“When you have disagreement over procedure, you go to the courts and the courts interpret the issue. They made it look like Ashni Singh stole money; so every time you hear them speak about sending Ashni Singh to jail, the police have made it clear that it is a procedural matter,” he said.

Dr. Jagdeo, stressing that no laws have been violated, agreed that all matters related to public expenditure are guarded by Guyana’s Constitution and other legislation.

“I think Dr Ashni Singh is a bright young man. I think he had done a great job as minister of finance….he is a person of great integrity,” Dr Jagdeo concluded. (Vanessa Narine)
***use file photos of Carl Greenidge, Bharrat Jagdeo, Ashni Singh and Anil Nandlall