–questions delay in charges against Jordan, other former gov’t officials

FOLLOWING its failure to charge several former government officials for misconduct during their tenure, Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Monday labelled the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) a “disappointment”.

Jagdeo was at the time addressing a press conference held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).
“SOCU has just been a disappointment, because had it been the PPP [People’s Progressive Party], they would have probably been running us down,” he said.

In making his case, he stated that former Minister of Finance under the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) regime, Winston Jordan, was involved in transactions where he breached Guyana’s financial laws, but he is yet to be charged.

“Winston Jordan has been in breach of our financial regulations, and also his fiduciary responsibility when he transferred large tracts of land worth billions of Guyana dollars to individuals without them paying a cent, although the agreement said they had to pay for these properties,” Jagdeo said.

While noting that he would have to seek an update on this matter from Attorney- General Anil Nandlall, S.C., he said: “You can go to jail for that; that’s a breach of the financial laws. I don’t see him even charged by now, and I wonder what’s going on.”

At a press conference on October 14, 2021, Nandlall had disclosed that there are a number of transactions which were conducted under the APNU+AFC administration that will be subjected to investigations, and from which charges are likely to follow.

Jordan was fingered in a number of these transactions, including the sale of several vehicles by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), without due process, to persons who are allegedly closely related to him.

Additionally, Nandlall had disclosed that a number of State properties valued millions of dollars were sold below market value, without public procurement, between the period of the passage of the No-Confidence Motion in December 2018, and the conclusion of the 2020 General and Regional Elections on August 2, 2020.

Jordan, in his response to the allegations, has claimed that they are false, baseless, and repugnant. According to him, the allegations are designed to impugn his character, tarnish his image, and lower his esteem in the eyes of his family, friends, admirers, well-wishers, and the general public.

“I wish to reassure everyone that I, Winston Jordan, Former Minister of Finance in the Coalition Government, performed my duties in compliance with the oath of my office, and to the best of my abilities. This, I have done in my over 35 years of public service, in various capacities,” he said in a press release issued in October 2021.

Jordan was called in for questioning by SOCU in January 2021, to assist with investigations pertaining to the award of State lands at Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara (EBD), specifically to the vesting of the lands, in his capacity as Finance Minister.

Attorney-at-law James Bond, and former National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Colvin Heath-London, were also subjects of this investigation.

Bond was accused of benefitting from land deals emanating from the sale of State lands while purportedly looking after the interest of the NICIL, which was presiding over the leasing of the said lands.

Two businessmen embroiled in the scandal, Life 1 Pharms Inc. Director, Avalon Jagnandan, and Director of A-Z Pharmaceuticals Medical Supplies and Equipment Inc., Eddie Doolal, were also arrested and, reportedly told investigators that it was Bond who facilitated the deals, which saw 30 acres of prime State lands being transferred to Chinese national, Jianfen Yu.

The businessmen had reportedly disclosed to investigators that it was Bond who encouraged them to start-up companies, and apply to NICIL for lands. They also claimed that it was Bond, and not they, who received a hefty payoff from both deals, amounting to more than $100M.
Bond, reportedly, also received a US$1M payment from Trinidad logistics company, Lennox Petroleum, for the sale of 10 acres of land leased to ARKEN Group Inc.

In that deal, ARKEN and its principal leased from NICIL 20.3 acres of land at Peter’s Hall on May 9, 2018, for a 20-year period at US$16,224 per year. ARKEN later sold the 10 acres of land to local logistics company, GLASS Holdings Inc. on October 10, 2019, for $200M.

Bond and Heath-London were both charged with conspiracy to defraud the State on April 1, 2021. They appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, at the Georgetown Magistrates Court, in relation to the sale of the State lands at Peter’s Hall. Doolal and Richmond were also charged.