Westford, Cummings alleged theft trial for Oct 13

The trial of former minister in the PPP/C administration Dr Jennifer Westford and her former aide Margaret Cummings, for the alleged theft of over $600 million from the government, has been rescheduled to commence this month.

The first witnesses in the trial of Westford and Cummings, turned up at the court two Fridays ago, only to be told to return next month for the commencement of trial.

The decision for a further delay in the matter was made by Magistrate Judy Latchman. Prior to the magistrate’s decision, she was told by the defence attorney Dexter Todd that both of his clients were scheduled to make an appearance before Chief Justice Yonette Cummings at the High Court at the said time of her trial. As such, Magistrate Latchman rescheduled the date for trial to October 13.

Jennifer Westford
Jennifer Westford
Margaret Cummings
Margaret Cummings

State Counsel Natasha Backer alongside prosecutor Vishnu Hunt, had already summoned Andrew Dazzel, the chief accountant at the Ministry of the Presidency and Jennifer Trotman to start their testimonies.

The charge against Westford and Cummings is that between the period October 19, 2011 and April 28, 2015, while being employed with the former Public Service Ministry, they stole $639,420,000 belonging to the Government of Guyana, which they received by virtue of employment.

It is also alleged that between 2011 and 2015, Westford signed 24 memoranda amounting to $639,420,000 and sent them to the Permanent Secretary at the then Office of the President to be signed and approved.

The money was said to have been requested for activities to be conducted in the 10 administrative regions.