Winston Jordan slapped with another misconduct charge, granted $150K bail

Former Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan on Monday appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where he was made to answer to another charge of misconduct, this time in relation to five acres of land at Goedverwagting and Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara sold back in 2020.

The charge stated that Jordan willfully misconducted himself by acting recklessly when he signed vesting order # 69 of 2020.

It is alleged that the order vested over five acres of land situated at Plantation Goedverwagting and Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, valued $150 million for $2.4 million, being sold at a price that was grossly under value to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of public trust and without reasonable cause or justification.

The offence was committed between February 25, 2020 and June 11, 2020 while Jordan held the office of the finance minister.

Jordan was not required to plead to the charge which was read to him by Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

He was represented by attorney Roysdale Forde and Dawn Cush.

Cush told the court that Jordan is a man of “good character”, who is made to face a similar charge which was already dismissed.

Cush told the court that pursuing the case would be an “absolute waste” of judicial time.

The prosecution had no objection to bail but asked that if granted, that bail be of substantial amount due to the quality of cash involved.

After listening to both sides, the magistrate granted bail in the sum of $150,000. The case was adjourned to April 23.

This is not the first time Jordan is facing the court. In recent years, he faced other charges including a similar offence which include the sale of the state’s largest wharf facilities located at Kingston, Georgetown to businessman and owner of BK Inc. Brian Tiwari.