PPP/C Gov’t to disband APNU+AFC formulated SARA

DPI, Guyana, Sunday, August 16, 2020

The State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA), which was established under the former APNU+AFC Coalition Government, is set to be dismantled.

Vice President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Hon. Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, during a press briefing on Friday, said the composition of the agency was found to be political.

Members of the unit, he said, have not done anything and are incapable of doing anything.

Headed by economist, Dr. Clive Thomas, the agency was established back in 2017, to recover stolen assets of the state.

The State Assets Recovery Act 2017, was passed in the National Assembly on April 13, 2017. The Act empowers the trace and identification of property, whether in Guyana or in a foreign state or territory, suspected to be state property, obtained or derived directly or indirectly from unlawful conduct involving a public official or any other person.

Dr. Jagdeo said while hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent, nothing is being done.

“We don’t want an agency that loses hundreds of millions of dollars per year to recover $10. We don’t want that; we cannot afford that as a country,” he emphasised.

According to the VP, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Hon. Anil Nandlall, will guide whether another agency should be established, the police are contacted directly, or audits are done.

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