Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 24, 2015 News
Former Minister of Public Service, Dr. Jennifer Westford, has reportedly returned six vehicles to the Ministry of the Presidency, and is cooperating with investigations into the suspicious transfer of state assets into private hands.
According to sources close to the investigation, the former Minister of Public Service has submitted a statement to the police. She has publicly denied any wrongdoing and said the transfers occurred since around 2010 and not recently.
The vehicles were taken late last week to the Ministry of the Presidency.
The former minister also met last week with senior officials of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) including former President Bharrat Jagdeo and General Secretary Clement Rohee, at Freedom House, to discuss the matter which has already implicated several top names.
Rohee this week said Westford was advised on the course of action to take.
“I met with the comrade and we had some discussions and she was advised on a course of action to take.” said the General Secretary.
The transfer of 28 state vehicles shortly after the May 11 elections came to light after the coalition government took office. The matter was handed over to the police, with the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, urging for the vehicles to be returned.
In addition to Westford, one of the persons whose name was mentioned as having the registration transferred to his name was Delroy Lewis, a driver in the Ministry. He has since reportedly claimed that he is unaware of the transfer.
Harmon last week disclosed that two staff members from the Ministry of Public Service have been sent on administrative leave to facilitate an investigation into the suspicious transfer of state assets to private individuals.
According to Minister Harmon, Personnel Officer Margaret Cummings, and Joyann Taylor were sent on leave following reports that the two were involved in the suspicious transfers.
They have also given police statements.
Harmon had noted that there were documents which had been sent to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), and that were purportedly signed by Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry, Hydar Ally. This was done under Ally’s letterhead, but signed by someone else.
Ally, a candidate of the PPP/C in the recent elections, denied knowledge of the transfers.
There were documents showing the vehicles being sold to Westford and Lewis. Gary Beaton, a senior Coast Guard official, and Westford’s partner, along with Wayne Walker and Osbert McPherson, were other names mentioned.
Receipts also surfaced showing payments for the vehicles ranging from $300,000 to $2.1M.
Lewis, a driver attached to the Public Service Department of the Ministry of the Presidency, reportedly said that he was “shocked” to see that he was implicated in the scandal.
The driver wants his name to be cleared. He said that the issue of buying a vehicle from Cummings never come up at his time in the Ministry.
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