Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton has demanded that President Irfaan Ali relieve Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo of his duties should he fail to voluntarily resign from office following swirling allegations of bribery and corrupt practices.
In an impromptu press conference called yesterday following the release of the investigative report titled ‘Guyana for Sale’ on the US network Showtime and its streaming sites on Sunday, Norton placed an added demand for an “unbiased investigation” to determine the validity of the allegations. Jagdeo’s tenant and businessman, Su Zhirong, in the VICE News programme alleged that Jagdeo accepts bribes in exchange for favours to investors coming here. Jagdeo has vehemently denied the allegations and said that he will lodge a lawsuit against Su.
Norton during his press conference said that he will be writing to the international community expressing his concerns as there are several aspects within the report that raise serious questions. Expanding on one, the Opposition Leader cited Jagdeo’s loss of composure and stuttering during the name dropping of his tenant. Norton’s view is that Jagdeo’s apparent confused demeanor at that slice of the video is “indicative of some form of guilt.” “He was asked about bribery and corruption and he said no. And he was fluent all the time. And then when the journalist said I want to deal with a specific case. Do you know the name Su and he stuttered, he had to regain his composure. Clearly he was caught off guard…”, Norton said as he responded to questions on his thoughts of the key bit of evidence to support his concerns.
Norton then questioned why a supposed ‘investment’ meeting with an ‘undercover’ businessman was held at Jagdeo’s home. According to Norton, this is a clear indication of “abuse, misuse and exercise of power outside the confines of the law.” Norton followed up by questioning why the meeting could not have been held at a government office. “Why is it this wasn’t done in a government office, which is the official office of the government? Why was it done in the home of the … Vice President? Why should the Vice President be telling an investor, ‘I don’t make the deal, somebody else will’,” he quoted from a specific segment from the report. It is on this basis, he [Norton] believes that there should be a “proper investigation.” Prior to that, Norton said there are considerations for questions to be placed in the National Assembly via motions but he just as quickly dismissed the possibility of having any clear or solid answer.
Norton was equally dismissive of a Guyana Police Force-led investigation and stated why he believes the Police will not be able to impartially investigate the claims. “Of course, we are worried if the Guyana Police Force would investigate because politically they have been compromised and that is why we have been saying credible investigators need to be used even if it means outside of Guyana, but we think there is much there to be investigated,” Norton underscored. Yesterday the Leader of the Opposition said he “condemns the actions of the PPP in reversing all the measures put in place by the (former) APNU+AFC (government) to ensure transparency and accountability and called on the government to take immediate action to bring a halt to every accusation of high- level corruption in government.”
Arguably
In the VICE programme Jagdeo is mentioned as arguably the most powerful politician here, since he still “pulls huge political weight” and Su was put to the ‘investor’ as the person who could get them into a room with Jagdeo. The meeting between Su and the ‘investor’ [Chan] occurred on the second floor of a huge concrete and steel building under construction. “If you want to get anything done in Guyana and you need some connections, you tell me. It should be no problem. I am very close with the Vice President and other officials,” Su is heard bragging. Su refers to Jagdeo as his boss. When asked how much the ‘investor’ would have to pay, Su said, “Mr. Chan, we will split the amount with the boss.” Su is also heard telling persons in the meeting that, “If we are going to do business, my boss is not going to receive the money directly.” Su then says that the illicit money will be referred to as a “service fee” and then explains his boss [Jagdeo] will split the proceeds with him.
Su is then asked about the money that has to be given to Jagdeo. Su responds and says that once the money is in Guyana he will give Jagdeo the cash. “The Vice President finds this the easiest and most convenient. With these procedures, no one can pick up on us,” he says. It was then Su took Chan to Jagdeo. Chan asks Jagdeo if he understood the deal he [Chan] has with Su, “in detail” and Jagdeo replies “No, no, no. I am not getting involved in ‘business’. You will get the support. Su is my friend, he gets all the support. He deals with all the agreements. I don’t. I don’t,” Jagdeo replies. “The thing is I am in government so I assist from government’s side. That is it,” Jagdeo adds. “I know. I know. I understand,” Chan says. Su then interjects in Mandarin saying that this was not the place to talk about the bribes. “You can just talk to me about these things,” Su is heard saying, with Chan replying, also in Mandarin, that while they knew that, they needed to know that Jagdeo will get the money Su is asking for. “I have to know the money is going to him,” the interpreter quotes Chan as saying. Su assures him, “I will give him the money with you.”
As they were leaving Jagdeo’s residence, the duo continue conversing in Mandarin with Su saying that Jagdeo’s hands are “very clean” and that “Other amounts of money before this have been much bigger”. According to Su, the hydroelectric plant deal would have seen them getting tens of millions of dollars. “He had me handle those. He would never admit that he is involved in this,” Su said. He also said that Jagdeo shared some of the money with him. In the report, Yeung [the Vice News reporter] is heard saying that Su is not the only person who confirmed that the “service fee” middlemen like Su take for bribes are huge amounts, as in an added interview, a man said to be the General Manager of one of China’s largest construction firms also corroborates Su’s allegations. “The middlemen play a crucial role. With just one word they can get something done,” the General Manager says in Mandarin.
Yeung also pointed out that Su showed documents of businesses of his and others that he played a role in sealing, including a large road project. Su also had in his possession correspondence relating to the Amaila Falls project.
