THE 2015 budget debates have concluded. And while most of the Members of Parliament (MPs), old and new, have gotten their few minutes of fame, there is still one MP from the Opposition PPP side who is yet to face the music. That MP is the embattled former Public Service Minister of the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, Dr Jennifer Westford.
Westford has been noticeably absent throughout the debates, although she was slated to speak on August 19, just before National Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.
Meanwhile, Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira, who is the spokesperson for her party in the House, told this publication that Westford’s absence is due to health reasons.
Teixeira could not say when Westford would return to the House, even though her absence reduces, by one, the voting strength of her party.
The former PPP/C Minister was sworn into the National Assembly on Monday, even though she has been named in a $600M police investigation.
The former minister, along with Personnel Officer at the Public Service Ministry, Margaret Cummings, appeared in late July this year before City Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer to larceny charges.
The former minister answered to four counts of attempt to commit a felony, one of which said that between July 17, 2014, and June 23, 2015, at the Public Service Ministry in Georgetown, she attempted to have motor vehicles PJJ 8113 and PKK 2175 transferred to the name of Wayne Walker, although those vehicles belonged to the Government of Guyana.
Another charge stated that during the same period, at the Public Service Ministry, in an attempt to commit larceny, Westford also sought to transfer motor vehicle PFF 1780 to the name of Delroy Lewis, being the property of the Government of Guyana.
The third charge was that Westford, during the same period at the Public Service Ministry, attempted to commit larceny as she sought to transfer motor vehicle PJJ 3444 to her name.
She further denied that between July 17, 2014 and June 23, 2015, at the Public Service Ministry, she also attempted to commit larceny in seeking to transfer motor vehicles PKK 6400, PEE 8783 and PJJ 6675 to the name of Gary Beaton.
Westford was placed on $200,000 bail on each of the charges against her.
The Opposition MP was also fingered in the disappearance of some $600M, supposedly disbursed into her safekeeping from the then Office of the President for work to be done by her ministry.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, when contacted by this publication some time ago, did not confirm the $600M figure, but acknowledged that the police are in receipt of additional vouchers, which caused an increase in the unaccounted sums of money.
Westford is expected to return to court for the continuation of proceedings against her. (Derwayne Wills)