– then sought millions more under SLED programme for barbershop venture

DOCUMENTS detailing the transaction between former Director of Sport, Christopher Jones and the Ministry of Social Protection, have revealed that Jones had applied for a $22M bank loan to build a barbershop, but later sought millions more under the Government’s Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneur Development (SLED).
The additional funding sough was reportedly to buy the equipment needed for the building.

The documents seen by the Guyana Chronicle indicate that Jones did not factor in the cost of the equipment in his loan application.
Jones, 40 of Conciliation Drive, Tucville, Georgetown, is currently on $100,000 station bail and is still being investigated by the police.
On Friday, August 21, the police carried out a search on Jones’ Tucville home during a power outage. They initially had no warrant to carry out the search and seizure, but eventually got one. A search of the property lead to the seizure a quantity of barbershop chairs and other items.
The search was executed after an audit of the ministry showed that it had approved the disbursement of $4.8M, through the Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) administration, for the procurement of equipment for a barbershop under the SLED programme.
The presentation of a financial return would reveal that the entire sum of money was spent by December 31, 2019, but almost $1M in items were not physically delivered but were instead stored at Jones’ home, and neither had the project been executed.

The SLED programme, which falls under the purview of the Social Protection Ministry in collaboration with the US Government funded Skills and Know-ledge for Youth Employment (SKYE) initiative, has been providing skills-training to disadvantaged youths.
According to documents seen by this newspaper, on February 7, 2019, Jones wrote then Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, seeking financial assistance from the SLED fund to equip his prospective business ‘Precision Cuts Barbershop and Salon’ to be located at Festival City, North Ruimveldt, with 18 barber chairs, ceiling tiles, mirrors and central Air-conditioning units at an estimated value of $4.7M.
Jones stated that the barbershop would provide jobs for 22 persons, and the $22M loan he had applied for from a commercial bank for the construction of the building, did not include a sum for equipment.

On January 2, 2020, the business name was registered by Jones at the Deeds Registry and issued on September 8, 2020. To this date, construction of the building at the proposed site has not started.

Jones has filed legal proceedings in the High Court against the State challenging the alleged warrantless search, the seizure of the barbershop equipment and his arrest.
His attorneys, Nigel Hughes, Ronald Daniels and Kezia Williams named acting Commissioner of Police, Nigel Hoppie; Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum; Inspector, Rodwell Sarrabo; Assistant Superintendent of Police, Chibanauth Singh; Corporal Singh and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, as respondents in the civil suit.
In his court documents which were filed on August 31, he said the search was illegal and a violation of his constitutional rights.
Jones, who is the Opposition Chief Whip, is seeking damages in excess of $100,000 for the 18 barber chairs and two air conditioning units, together valued $4.8 million. He is also seeking in excess of $100,000 for trespassing at his Lot 609 Conciliation Drive, Tucville, Georgetown home. Additionally, he is seeking $100,000 for his wrongful arrest on August 21, 2020. He also wants the court to order the return of the equipment which remains in police custody.
The Attorney-General (AG), in his defence which was filed by State Solicitor, Prithima Kissoon, is asking the court to dismiss the application.
The AG contends that a police officer has the power to arrest, without warrant, anyone whom he suspects, with reasonable cause, is about to commit an offence or whom he suspects has already committed such an offence; moreover, the offence need not actually have been committed to legitimise the arrest without warrant by a police officer.

“The claimant is not entitled to any damages at law or at all and the claim should be dismissed for being frivolous and vexatious,” Nandlall said.
According to the AG, Hoppie and the Crime Chief are wrongly named as parties in the proceedings as they were nowhere close to, in proximity of, or at, the Jones’ premises, nor did they arrest or detain him as alleged.