Former finance minister fresh criminal charge is “malicious”- PNCR

Last Updated on Tuesday, 1 April 2025, 18:37 by Writer

Former finance minister Winston Jordan was Monday charged with another count of misconduct in public office in connection with the sale of more than five acres of government-owned land way below market value.

But the main opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) said the charge was politically motivated by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC)-led administration. ” Mr Jordan’s rearrest is a malicious and vindictive act by an increasingly unhinged PPP regime to silence those who seek to expose it,” that party said.

Mr Jordan was not required to plead to the indictable charge. Magistrate Fabayo Azore granted him GY$150,000 bail and ordered that he return to court on April 23.

The Guyana Police Force’s Special Organised Crime Unit alleged that Mr Jordan signed a vesting order to sell the land at LSS Plantation Beterverwagting and Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, for GY$2.425 million instead of the market value of GY$150 million. The State alleges that that transaction amounts to an abuse of public trust without reasonable cause or justification.

Defence Lawyer, Roysdale Forde said his client signed that and other vesting orders based on decisions by the Board of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), the state corporation for government assets.

The PNCR alleged that the PPPC administration was unleashing state agencies such as the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Revenue Authority on its political opponents as the 2025 general and regional elections draw near. “These actions by the PPP are fostering social unease and political instability in the country. Guyanese must raise their voices and call on the PPP regime to cease and desist,” that party said.

Back in May, 2023, the Lower Court had dismissed an almost identical charge against Mr Jordan for signing a Transfer of Property Order to BK Marine Inc, a prime wharfing facility for GY$20.2 million although it was valued at more than GY$5 billion. That 2.553 acre property at Mudlot, Kingston, Georgetown, was once part of the property owned by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).