Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, through his lawyer, has asked the court for ex parte judgement in the $50 million lawsuit he brought against controversial naturalised Chinese businessman Su Zhirong, who has never made an appearance in his defence. Once granted, Su’s local assets would likely be passed to Jagdeo through levying.
Su still holds shares in companies in Guyana alongside directorship for others, legal sources familiar with the case told the Stabroek News. The Deeds Registry has Su listed as the director and majority shareholder of Southern Canton International Trading Inc and Hi-Tech Construction Inc which have forest and mining concessions.
Su had applied for a quarry licence to operate in the Mazaruni mining district with a planned investment of US$11.7 million. The company was granted the licence for 2,289 acres for quarry potential, referred to as Turiruba in the Korerit and Mazaruni rivers.
Efforts to contact Guyana Geology and Mines Commission Head Newell Dennison to get an update on the claims proved futile. However, sources at the agency told this newspaper: “All concessions come with annual or other fees and when these are not paid, and there is a process where those are returned…”
Asked whether Su’s lands were in default for fees owed, the source said, “I am not aware at this time and will have to check on that, my dear.”
Late last month, Jagdeo had said that his attorneys advised him that they had moved for default judgement as Su had not entered an appearance in court or filed a defence in the $50 million libel case he brought against his former tenant.
Su’s location remains a mystery. The last sighting of the man this newspaper was aware of was back in February of 2022, at the height of the scandal. Since then there has been no word on his whereabouts.
In 2022 also, the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Guyana had informed that Su had resigned from it. Two of the large-scale businesses he was previously involved with had also put out notices distancing themselves from Su, saying that he was no longer a part of those companies.
“Accordingly, anything said or done by or any act carried out or otherwise attributed to Su Zhi Rong in his personal or any other capacity should not be taken as a reference to the company China Zhonghao Inc or otherwise taken to represent or emanate from the company,” one notice stated. It added, “persons doing or wishing to do business with the company China Zhonghao Inc are notified that such business will have no connection whatsoever with Su Zhi Rong.”
China Zhonghao Inc has a bulk fuel facility at the Falls Gas Station on the East Bank Demerara. It stores fuel for a number of local dealers.
Jagdeo’s suit against Su came amid corruption allegations. Su claimed to be a middleman who lobbied the Vice President on behalf of Chinese investors and companies. He had told Vice News reporter Isobel Yeung, while she was undercover, that Jagdeo was his boss and “processing fees” had to be paid to him to gain access to lucrative contracts in Guyana. Jagdeo has vehemently denied these allegations and continues to do so.
The Vice President said that Su had brought his name into disrepute and globally it could mean that his image will be sullied. “Yes, my reputation took a hit globally. They are not Guyanese so they may not know and this could be really major because it is international. This could be really big,” he said, pointing out that Vice has large viewership globally.
At the United Nations’ 140th Session of the Human Rights Committee in Geneva, Switzerland, a barrage of questions on corruption, human rights and public accountability for state assets were asked including allegations against the Vice President.
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Gail Teixeira had appeared virtually to represent Guyana at the hybrid session, delivering an opening statement and fielding enquiries from committee members.
A particularly pointed question came from United States committee member Laurence Helfer: “The committee… reiterates its request for information on measures to ensure prompt and effective investigations into allegations of corruption and the prosecution of perpetrators. The committee is aware of public frustration regarding, for example, the failure to investigate reports of corruption by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. Would the state party care to comment on these reports?” Helfer probed.
Teixeira responded that no formal police report had been filed regarding the Vice News broadcast containing allegations of corruption against the VP. Without a formal complaint, she argued, law enforcement authorities were unable to launch an investigation. “However, the VP has answered this issue publicly several times in the same media that has carried these reports,” she stated.
