Dear Editor
Former President Jagdeo’s recent arrest, along with other key former government functionaries by members of the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU), will go down in history as one of the most unfortunate yet avoidable events in Guyana’s history.
James Gerald Warner of Craigenmaddie, a former Secretary of State for Scotland once said “We should be long past applauding politicians of any hue…they got us into this mess. The best deserve a probationary opportunity to prove themselves; the worst should be in jail.”
Invariably, Police do not go to a person’s comfort zone to conduct interviews and take statements when there is an accessible Police station within reach. If it is determined that the party or parties, who are subjects or suspects in a Police investigation, do not wish to fully cooperate, the Police has the right and power of arrest.
The latter was effected by SOCU on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 against some persons of interest implicated in the Sparendaam (Pradoville 2) land allocation investigations.
The Pradoville 2 issue has attracted the ire of the Guyanese populace, most of whom struggled under the PPP/C’s regime to acquire basic house lots. It was one of the main election campaign theses of the APNU/AFC coalition. It has been a front-burner item for the coalition government’s drive to reverse misfeasance by members of the former regime ever since coming into office in May 2015.
Mr. Jagdeo, when questioned by media operatives after his arrest and subsequent release at SOCU Headquarters, said that he refused to answer certain questions regarding Pradoville 2 that were directed to him by SOCU Officers. He said he opted to invoke his immunity as a former President.
While that may be Mr. Jagdeo’s entitlement or prerogative, his action may suggest that he is not as genuine as he previously postulated towards cooperating with law enforcement agencies now tasked with investigating the Pradoville 2 matter, as well as other alleged malpractices during the PPP/C tenure. Mr. Jagdeo may have calculated that the APNU/AFC government will avoid going the route of piercing his veil of immunity.
It is no secret that many people like to speak glibly, calling others “stupid” based on narrow perceptions or hype. The same goes for other disreputable labels. Therefore one should not take rumor to heart nor be easily mislead by lose talkers regarding Mr. Jagdeo’s intellect. Mr. Jagdeo and his colleagues are not oblivious to implications of the Pradoville 2 investigation. They have a battery of energetic legal minds at their beck and call. Some of those legal minds seem to be very au fait with progress in the matter or lack thereof.
Mr. Jagdeo’s current tangential approach and failure to disclose any or all facts known to him may throw a new twist to things if certain orders regarding Pradoville 2 came directly from him. It may, in fact, leave other implicated suspects solely subject to determinations by a prosecution should this matter take a judicial course. There may also be consequences, impeding fairness in the trials of those people who may face criminal prosecution on the subject.
The excesses of invoked immunity may very well challenge the integrity of the judicial system and public confidence in the system if full disclosure is used as a ransom in this instant.
Regards
Orette Cutting