Counsel for Judicial Manager of Clico (Guyana), Maria van Beek says the attempt on her life has affected her work in relation to the company, and she has requested additional time from the High Court to complete a report.

Her attorney, Ashton Chase S.C. said yesterday that the Judicial Manager has been unable to comply with Chief Justice Ian Chang’s request for additional information on Clico (Guyana’s) statutory fund because of the shooting incident.

Maria van Beek

Senior Counsel said too, that the doctors are still being consulted on van Beek’s condition, adding that two weeks seemed reasonable for the additional information to be compiled.

Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang granted the extension upon hearing counsel for the Judicial Manager. He had previously said that more information is needed in relation to the particulars of Clico’s statutory fund, noting that the Judicial Manager must provide information on all the lines of businesses that Clico (Guyana) conducts, which relates to the various categories of insurance such as accident, fire and motor.

Attorney Roysdale Forde, who has entered a formal appearance on behalf of Clico (Guyana) in the winding-up hearing before the Chief Justice, made no objections to van Beek’s request yesterday.

Van Beek appeared in court on the last occasion and presented a report in which she outlined the financial position of the company. She said that in the worst case scenario of liquidation, the liabilities of CLICO (Guyana) will exceed its assets by $11.9 billion dollars.

Subsequent to her submitting the report, van Beek was shot. She was on her way to work when the shooting occurred. Reports are that she was stuck in a long line of traffic at the junction of Lombard and Leopold streets during a heavy downpour when a gunman walked up to her vehicle and fired a single shot through the driver’s side window. He jumped on a waiting motorcycle parked on Leopold Street and fled.

Van Beek secured an order from the court in February to place Clico (Guyana) under judicial management prior to winding up of the company; she was also appointed Judicial Manager. The decision came following the move by the Bahamas Supreme Court to order the liquidation of Clico (Bahamas). Clico (Bahamas) held 53% of the assets of Clico (Guyana) at the end of 2007.