Former Public Service Minister Dr Jennifer Westford, who was under investigation over an alleged attempt to transfer state vehicles to herself and persons close to her after the May 11th general elections, will face a criminal charge following advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack.
While Stabroek News was unable to get a comment from Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, reliable information indicated that the case file returned to the police from the DPP yesterday afternoon recommended that Westford and an employee of the ministry, Margaret Cummings, be criminally charged.
Westford is currently listed as one of the opposition PPP/C’s prospective Members of Parliament. If charged, she would be the first high ranking official from the previous administration to face a criminal charge.
A criminal charge would not bar her from becoming a Member of Parliament. However, under Article 156 of the Constitution, once found guilty and if she does not file an appeal in the stipulated time frame, she would have to vacate her seat.
The alleged scheme involving the former minister was unearthed when Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Khurshid Sattaur wrote to then Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry Hydar Ally on June 10th, 2015, asking that he re-issue a letter, dated April 14th, 2015, requesting the transfer of registration for eight vehicles into the names of Westford, Wayne Walker, Delroy Lewis, Gary Beaton (who is said to be Westford’s spouse) and Osbert McPherson.
A change of registration for two vehicles for Walker was sought; one for Lewis; one for Westford; three for Beaton and one for Mc Pherson. The letter was signed by Cummings for Ally.
The request, seen by Stabroek News, was received by the GRA on May 18, 2015. The letter stated that the vehicles were either registered in the ministry’s name or were in use by the ministry but were sold.
According to the documents seen by Stabroek News, receipts were backdated to make it appear as though monies were collected for the sale of the vehicles on July 18, 2014. This newspaper also saw cash receipts for four of the five persons: $740 000 was reportedly collected from Walker as payment for two vehicles; $500,000 from Westford for the purchase of one; $2.1 million from Beaton for three; and $300,000 from Lewis for one.
Two ministry employees, including Cummings, were sent on leave to facilitate the probe.
Following the publication of the allegations, Stabroek News made several attempts to contact the former minister but she did not answer phone calls. She eventually responded by text and apologised for not answering her cell phone. The former minister said “as you know I am not a media person” and added that she hoped Stabroek News will “carry the story when the truth to these allegations surfaces.”
Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who had announced the discovery of the attempt to transfer the registration for the vehicles, subsequently said all the vehicles were returned.
When he was asked about the issue, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee stated that he had spoken to the former minister about the allegations. “Yes, we met with the comrade and we had some discussions and she was advised on a course of action to take. I believe she is following that course of action,” he had told reporters.
Rohee then sidestepped questions on whether the allegations against Westford had surprised him and if the party would take a particular course of action. “You are tempting me to give you a headline—‘Rohee surprised by this disclosure’,” he said. Further pressed for his reaction, he reiterated, “We met with the comrade and we discussed the matter with her… I verily, verily believe that she is following that course of action. Whatever the course of action she is taking that is it.”
Delroy Lewis, when contacted by Stabroek News, had proclaimed his innocence. He said he never bought any vehicle owned by the ministry and was unaware of any request for a transfer of registration of any vehicle into his name. Lewis had said that he had been working at the Public Service Ministry since 2011 and that he was on leave at the time but would have been returning to his job shortly.
