Political expediency will not guide justice- Min. Ramjattan

DPI, GUYANA, Friday, May 25, 2018

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan today said political expediency will never guide the government in the application of justice.

While the Opposition continues to politicise the legal actions against them, Minster Ramjattan assured that the government is doing what is necessary to restore order.

Addressing members of the media today, Minister Ramjattan said if after 52 years, the country cannot come to terms with the unauthorised activity of leading members, there will be no progress.

“But political expediency will not guide us as a government in the application of justice. Not because we see them. We have evidence and it is warranted, and so it will move on,” the Minister stated.

According to him, the former administration contorted the law to accommodate illegalities. He added that this is one the reasons the government began the forensic audits, “All the pieces are there that ensure the warranting and justification of these prosecutions. But they will play like we are politically motivated.”

He said should the government fail to act, members of the current administration may feel the need to practice and advocate selling state properties and do so with impunity.

“If the court releases them fine. But you got a property for $385 Million valued sold at $187 Million or thereabout,” the Minister said, referring to the Opposition.

Earlier this month, former Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh and head of NICIL Winston Brassington were charged with three counts of misconduct in public office, contrary to the public law.

They have been accused of acting recklessly when they sold 103.88 acres of state lands without first having procured a valuation of the property from a competent valuation officer.

The second charge alleges that they sold 4,700 acres, also the property of the state for the sum of $150,000,000 knowing that the said property was valued at $340,000,000 by Rodrigues Architects Associate.

The final charge alleges that the former finance minister sold a Turkeyen state land for the sum of $185, 037,000 without first having procured a valuation of the said property from a competent officer.

 

By: Alexis Rodney.