ON May 15, 2017, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Parliamentarian and former Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford and her former personnel officer, Margaret Cummings, will go on trial in relation to charges of alleged attempted larceny and forgery of documents relating to the purchase of eight state vehicles.
The trial will be presided over by City Magistrate, Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Police Inspector, Bharrat Mangru is slated to call more than nine witnesses, who will testify on behalf of the prosecution.
In August 2015, the former minister was placed on a total of $800,000 bail after she pleaded not guilty to the charges, which state that between July 17, 2014 and June 23, 2015, she attempted to transfer eight state-owned vehicles to four persons.
Westford’s former aid, Margaret Cummings was also slapped with four counts of forgery. Cummings also pleaded not guilty to four charges which alleged that she forged documents for the purchase of the eight motor vehicles. She was also released on a total of $1.2M bail.
In June 2015, Minister of State Joseph Harmon, had told the media that it was brought to his attention that some documents were sent to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), purportedly signed by Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry, Hydar Ally.
This was done under Ally’s letterhead, but signed by someone else. It was Ally who directed Harmon to the discrepancy in the paperwork forwarded to GRA for the transfer of eight vehicles. In light of the overwhelming evidence, the vehicles were returned to the government.
Meanwhile, in April 2016, Westford and Cummings were each released on $4.8M bail after denying a total of 24 charges which alleged that they stole over $639M, while being employed in the Public Service. This matter is currently before City Magistrate, Judy Latchman.
According to court facts, Westford was employed as Minister of Public Service from 2001-2015, while her co-accused was the principal personnel officer of the Ministry. Cummings was also in charge of the Ministry’s accounts department.