PPP to reconsider charges against Gov’t Ministers

The Opposition Party says it needs to reconsider its plan of filing more private criminal charges against Government ministers.

Party Leader and former President, Bharrat Jagdeo told a news conference Monday that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is also hesitant to approach the police and file complaints.

“I am wondering whether it would even be useful to take these charges to the police because the way everything is politicised now, you just aren’t going to get an investigation,” Jagdeo stated.

Opposition Parliamentarians Juan Edghill and Vickram Bharat, represented by former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall had filed criminal charges against four ministers but the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) DPP has since dismissed the charges in the furtherance of good governance.

The DPP also advised that a police investigation is conducted before the filing of criminal charges.

Those ministers are: Winston Jordan, David Patterson, Volda Lawrence, Dr George Norton and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine.

Jagdeo said despite his reservations, the PPP will have to discuss how they will move forward.

The charges filed by the PPP came on the heels of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) filing charges of misconduct in public office against two former government officials Dr Ashni Singh and Winston Brassington.

The charges were filed in absentia since both men reside overseas and the court granted until May 7 for them to make appearances. s

Their lawyer, who is Nandlall, has indicated that he will take steps to have the charges dismissed.

He had written to the DPP requesting that the charges are reviewed but he has not received a favourable response.

This is what prompted his cries of a double standard in the execution of the powers vested in the Office of the DPP.