Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, has filed an appeal to the ruling handed down by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, ordering that he be jailed for 21 days if he fails to pay over to Trinidad construction company Dipcon, the more than US$2 million owed by government for road construction works.
On Monday, the judge ruled that the payment is to be made no later than July 8th, failing which Jordan is to be imprisoned.
In his grounds of appeal, Attorney General Basil Williams who is representing Jordan argues that the judge erred and misdirected herself in law by exercising jurisdiction to hear the application brought by Dipcon for contempt against Jordan in his private and personal capacity for monies “alleged to be owed by the state.”
According to the notice of appeal, the judge “improperly” heard the matter in the absence of any action, cause, judgment, order or proceedings having been made or issued in the personal name of Winston Jordan.