Former Minister of Finance Winston Jordan has been discharged from the hospital and is at home recuperating.
Jordan was hospitalized at a private facility on Thursday after he was arrested by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), which informed him that he would be charged with misconduct in public office over the sale of state lands at Mudflat, Kingston, Georgetown, to prominent contractor Brian Tiwarie, of the BK Group of Companies.
Jordan was expected to return to SOCU yesterday for further questioning but his attorney, Roysdale Forde SC, told Stabroek News he did not and that he was at home recuperating.
Jordan’s arrest was condemned by Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon on Thursday and the main opposition coalition partner the Alliance For Change (AFC) yesterday joined in denouncing the move.
In a statement, the party suggested that SOCU acted on political directives and that the arrest was aimed at silencing Jordan due to his criticism of government measures.
“To charge and prosecute a former Minister for taking actions pursuant to a decision(s) of Cabinet is vulgar, abusive, unlawful and unconstitutional, and as the PPP recognised when it withdrew false charges against Dr. George Norton, an individual should not be singled out and persecuted while acting on behalf of the collective of the Constitutional body known as the Cabinet,” it asserted.
The AFC reminded that Jordan was, at all material times a gazetted Minister, with responsibility for Finance, within the David Granger Cabinet. “At all times, Minister Jordan acted within the strict parameters of the Constitution and Financial Management and Accountability Act (FMAA). No decision was personal or without Cabinet approval,” the party said.
SOCU, in a press statement on Thursday night, had said Jordan, in the company of two attorneys, visited its office at Camp Road for an interview and he was informed that he will be facing criminal charges and would be transferred to the Sparendaam Police Station.
According to the statement, as Jordan was being escorted to the Sparendaam Police Station for further questioning, he informed investigators of feeling unwell and was rushed to the Plaisance Health Centre, where he was attended to by health workers. The health care providers stated that Jordan was displaying symptoms of cerebrovascular complications.
His attorneys after being briefed on his health condition, requested that he access medical attention from a private hospital where he was admitted and placed under medical supervision.
SOCU said Jordan had been called in for questioning in relation to a series of alleged fraudulent transactions in which he is implicated, involving public funds and state properties, estimated to be worth billions of Guyana dollars.
It said Jordan was interviewed about the sale and vesting of the state’s largest wharf facilities, located at Kingston, George-town, valued approximately GY $8 billion (US$40,000,000), which was sold for a mere GY$110 million (US$500,000.) It added that BK Marines Limited paid only GY $20 million (US$100,000) and Jordan issued a vesting order passing Title to the purchaser, without the payment of any further sum of monies.
The statement pointed out that the vesting order stated that the property is being sold free from encumbrance and liabilities and no further sum of money is owed by the purchaser.
A transport was subsequently issued for this property and the value stated on it was $400,000,000 (US$2,000,000.) Further, the agreement of sale states that Title must only pass upon full payment of purchase price.
Less than a week before the March 2 elections last year, Jordan granted permission for a number of state assets to be sold, including the 2.5 acres of prime land at Mud Lot, Cummingsburg, Georgetown, to BK International, despite government having caretaker status at the time.
In response, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) explained the deal followed a December 4, 2006 lease agreement entered into between it and BK Inc for a period of 20 years with an option to purchase anytime during the lease period. “The purchase price was set at one hundred and ten million Guyana dollars. The option to purchase was contingent on the Lessee obtaining approval from the Mayor and City Council for its intended construction works. This Agreement was signed by former Head of NICIL, Winston Brassington and BK Inc. and witnessed by Marcia Nadir Sharma,” NICIL explained in a press release.
“On November 19, 2009, BK Inc. exercised its option to purchase and ceased paying rent. NICIL rejected the offer to purchase. In June 2013, NICIL began legal proceedings against BK Inc. to recover the outstanding rent and the accrued interest. This matter engaged the attention of the Court from 2013 to 2017. Sometime during 2017, BK Inc. submitted an amended offer. In August 2017, the matter was set down by the court pending settlement. In October 2017, NICIL made a counter offer to BK Inc. that included the original purchase price, all outstanding rent, and 50% of the accrued interest. BK Inc. accepted the counter offer,” it added.
