Greenidge goes to court over US$17M IDB loan

Mar 16, 2015 News

Opposition financial point man, Carl Greenidge has filed a writ at the High Court to prevent the government from accessing a US$17M loan it recently received from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

APNU Shadow Finance Minister, Carl Greenidge

The defendants in the case are Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh and Attorney General, Anil Nandlall.
According to the writ filed by Greenidge’s lawyer, Roysdale Forde, the plaintiff is asking that the proceeds under the Loan Agreements signed between Dr. Singh and the IDB be paid into the Consolidated Fund.
Greenidge is also asking that there be no  withdrawal  of  the  proceeds  of  the  said Loan  Agreements  except  by  an  Appropriation  Act  as directed by Article  217  of  the  Constitution.
The former Finance Minister wants the court to grant as well, a declaration  that  no  withdrawal  of  the  proceeds  of  the  said Loan  Agreements  be  made,  except to  the  limit  specified  in  Article  219 of the Constitution and Section 36 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability  Act.
He also filed for a declaration  to be granted which stipulates that  Dr. Singh or other Ministers  designated  by  the  President  or  any  other  member  of  the  Executive  cannot  lawfully  spend  or  authorize the spending of monies received under the said Loan  Agreements.
Greenidge’s lawyer also asked the court to hear and subsequently grant a Conservatory Order to ensure that the Minister of Finance and any of his agents cannot spend or permit such as it relates to the loans, pending the hearing and determination of the case.