– invokes presidential immunity clause once more

IN a move reminiscent of his March 2017 appearance, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Monday invoked the immunity clause of the Constitution of Guyana and refused to answer questions posed by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) on his actions during his time as President.

The former President is among several members of the Cabinet of the former administration who were called in by SOCU for questioning since last week. The questions centred on the acquisition by the former government officials of prime seaside lands at Plantation Sparendaam and Goedverwagting, more commonly known as “Pradoville 2,” below market value during their tenure in government.

Opposition Member of Parliament, Anil Nandalall who appeared in the capacity of Jagdeo’s lawyer, said the executive president of Guyana under the constitution is immune from answering any questions regarding actions done or decisions made while he was acting in that capacity. He said the questions related to when Jagdeo was president and was chairman of cabinet and as such he invoked that article which immunised him from questioning and from any legal process. Jagdeo said the party plans to file a full defence on the matter at some point in time.

Accompanied by a battery of lawyers, Jagdeo appeared at the Camp Street offices of SOCU in the midday sun in a move he said is geared at establishing a precedent. He said he could have refused the “interview” by the investigators but he said he did not because he wanted to set the precedent. Jagdeo told reporters prior to his interview with the investigators; the PPP has filed a matter with SOCU regarding a contract issued by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI). He said that he expects that when that investigation is undertaken by SOCU, that each member of the current cabinet will appear at the unit.

Following the meeting, he said he was pleased after he asked whether SOCU officials indicated in the affirmative regarding the case filed against the MPI. Jagdeo said the officials said he will be called by SOCU for an interview, as well as other members of the government, regarding the MPI contract. He said he also informed SOCU that there are five cases which the party plans to send to the unit.

On the issue of Pradoville, Jagdeo told reporters earlier that he dealt with the matter many times before and according to him the matter will wind its way eventually to the court.

Former Minister of Transport, Robeson Benn was quoted in another section of the media following his appearance at SOCU last week, that the Pradoville Two housing scheme was built for security reasons but Jagdeo noted that the opinion was that of Benn and according to him, it was not discussed at the cabinet when the party was in power. He said Benn confirmed that he “never said so at SOCU” and according to Jagdeo, had it been a security issue, he would not have moved to Pradoville. Asked why the scheme was established, he side-stepped the issue and noted that all the answers will be ventilated in the courts.

Jagdeo said too, that he would not pay the difference in the price of land at the housing scheme. “No, the answer is no,” he said bluntly. Last week former President and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds along with several other former government officials appeared before SOCU for questioning in relation to the role they played in the sale of state lands at Pradoville Tw2. Hinds was accompanied by former Minister of Local Government, Kellawan Lall; former Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai; former Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsarran and former Minister of Housing Irfaan Ali, on Wednesday afternoon. The Guyana Chronicle reported recently that charges are expected to be instituted against persons fingered in the Sparendaam Housing Project AKA Pradoville 2- land scam, according to a well-placed source. The Guyana Chronicle understands that investigations into the housing project are near completion, and that charges could be laid soon.