Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Legal Affairs debunk malicious circulation of counterfeit payment voucher

There is currently an image purporting to be a payment voucher to Dr. Francis Raphael Alexis, for his services provided to the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry Legal Affairs (hereinafter referred to as the AGC/MOLA) in the Court of Appeal for the appeals resulting directly from the passage of the No Confidence Motion. This image was shared on the Facebook account of Former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall and is now widely circulated on various social media platforms by many online users.

The AGC/MOLA, frontally deny and reject out of hand such a payment was ever made.

By no stretch of imagination, this document resembles or even comes close to the Payment Vouchers utilized by Government agencies. Some of the discrepancies detected in the document are not limited to but are as follows:

  • The AGC/MOLA do not use a ‘ ref #’
  • The amount quoted by the document is substantially inaccurate and misleading.
  • As stated before, the document is not authentic since there is a standard payment voucher utilized by Government agencies
  • The cheque number is not related to any payment for Dr. Alexis

Many social media users, who are acquainted with the Government’s Payment System, can easily detect the irregularities and inconsistencies with this document.  Over the years, the Government of Guyana, irrespective, of which political party is governing, has developed a standardized system of payment and documents that should be utilized when offsetting these payments throughout all ministries nationwide. This transaction is no different and the system cannot be unilaterally abrogated.

Moreover, it is imperative to note that the two officers named that are attached to the AGC/MOLA appearing on the document cannot carry out such a transaction. Mrs. Tamika Barkoye, cannot approve such payment. Also, Ms. Simone Allen does not make payments of any sort.

Furthermore, this must be seen as yet another blatant attack on professionals of the public service attached to the AGC/MOLA and by extension the Government of Guyana.

The circulation of this voucher along with initial speculation associated with Dr. Alexis being retained by the AGC/MOLA is calculated to be entirely mischievous and is highly unacceptable.

Under the former administration, The AGC/MOLA would have expended hefty sums of monies to retain lawyers from within the Caribbean region to bolster their legal teams. Examples include the Elections Petition Case of 2015, the lawyer being Abe Dabdoub of Jamaica and Seenauth Jairam SC of Trinidad and Tobago in the Budget- Cuts case to name a few.

Consequently, we ask that the image be removed immediately.

Sincerely,
AGC/MOLA

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