By Johann Earle In Jeju, South Korea
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo has declined to respond to the ongoing controversy surrounding his acquisition of two properties in a relatively short time and the uncapped nature of his benefits and other facilities which have been hot button topics for the opposition and other observers in recent days, saying that he will break his silence on the matter when he returns home.
Speaking to Stabroek News in Jeju, South Korea yesterday, Jagdeo said that on his return to Guyana he will be holding a press conference during which he will address all of the controversial issues that have been circulating in the press and elsewhere.
“When I get back home,” he said, when asked for a comment. “You know I have not done any interviews so I plan to do the first one when I go back home to answer all of those questions,” he said.
“In fact, I should do it with a panel of journalists, not with one, because I have not done any interviews. I had spoken once with Demerara Waves in New York but that was on a specific issue. [In the press session], I will cover everything,” he said.
The Alliance For Change (AFC) has issued a call for the former President to be made to account for his acquisition of two properties and said that the benefits to be given to Jagdeo or any other former President must be clearly quantified to avoid abuse of power which is not alien to the administration.
While the controversy has been ongoing for some time about the lack of caps and limits on the benefits and other facilities for the former President, a newer debate commenced two Sundays ago on the land that the former President owns and the nature of the acquisition of those properties.
At an NCN corruption debate held two Sundays ago which dealt with the President’s pension, benefits and other facilities, Chairman of the AFC Nigel Hughes pressed Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Minister of Labour Dr. Nanda Kishore Gopaul about the price Jagdeo would have paid for the lands in what are referred to as Pradoville 1 and 2. Hughes was also concerned about the disposal of the Pradoville 1 property by Jagdeo.
Hughes made the point that the former President’s benefits and other facilities must be viewed in the context of his living in a “palace” which may require large numbers of household and other staff to manage it.
