Ex-Minister to face court

Former Public Service Minister Dr. Jennifer Westford, could be in court before the end of the week on charges related to the illegal transfer of state vehicles to private individuals, even as she prepares to return to the National Assembly as a Member of Parliament for the Opposition People’s Progressive Party. Yesterday, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack advised the police that they can proceeded with charges against Westford and her former Personnel Officer, Margaret Cummings, ending weeks of speculation and anxiety. Westford is the first high-profile member of the former government to face corruption-related charges. The police had initially sought the DPP’s advice more than a month ago, but they were instructed to provide additional information to that which they already had.

Ex-Minister Dr. Jennifer Westford

The scheme was uncovered after former Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry, Hydar Ally,  revealed to the newly elected A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change(APNU+AFC) coalition government that there was an attempt to transfer the government vehicles to former Minister Westford, her spouse, and two other private individuals. The illegal transfers were being effected just as the new government was getting ready to take office. Shortly after the discovery, Personnel Officer Cummings, and one Joyann Taylor, were sent on leave following reports that the two were integrally involved in the suspicious transfers. In early June, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had told the media that it was brought to his attention that there were some documents which had been sent to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), that were purportedly signed by Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry, Hydar Ally. This was done under Ally’s letterhead, but signed by someone else. “He had no knowledge of this transaction,” Minister Harmon had stressed. It was Ally who directed Harmon to the discrepancy in the paperwork forwarded to the Guyana Revenue Authority for the transfer of eight vehicles. Ally showed Harmon that the signatures of Cummings and Taylor were found on the receipts for the documentation, sale and transfer of the vehicles. Westford subsequently tried defending herself by claiming that she did not know why she was being implicated. Dr. Westford had said that the transactions occurred since 2010. But documents pertaining to the transfers surfaced and they appeared to implicate Dr. Westford as well as the four other persons. One of the documents showed that on April 14, 2015, Chief Personnel Officer Margaret Cummings sent a letter to Head of the GRA, Khurshid Sattaur. The letter requested a change of registration for eight vehicles from the then Public Service Ministry to then Minister Jennifer Westford and the four persons. Another shows that after the May 11 Regional and General Elections, the GRA head replied to the letter but addressed it to the Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry, Hydar Ally. Sattaur had asked the Permanent Secretary to reissue the request of transfer since the government had changed. Ally responded on June 15, saying that the request was withdrawn, and that he only had knowledge of the original letter. Furthermore, Ally wrote to Westford on May 29, last, asking for six of the said vehicles. He also asked for the location of a black Kia Sorento bought for over $9M from Rudisa Motor Company in July 2013. Further, there are receipts showing the payments for the vehicles ranging from $300,000 to $2.1M from Dr. Westford, along with the other four, for their vehicles. In light of the overwhelming evidence, the vehicles were returned to the government. This was after Westford met with senior members of her party. She also provided a statement to the investigators. A driver who is attached to the Public Service Ministry and whose name was listed as one of those seeking a transfer of one of the vehicles, had distanced himself from the alleged fraud, and said he was not even aware that there was a move to have the vehicle transferred to his name. So far it is not clear how many and what charges will be instituted, but according to a source, those involved could face forgery among other charges.