Shadow Attorney General, Roysdale Forde SC yesterday called for the resignation of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and an independent probe of allegations in a VICE News programme in which businessman Su Zhirong said that Jagdeo took bribes.
Jagdeo has strongly denied these allegations and yesterday said that he will be taking legal action against Su.
In a statement yesterday after the broadcast on the US Channel Showtime, Forde said that the revelations were “explosive” and “damning”.
He said that the report discloses that Su had privileges, connections and a relationship with the Vice President.
He added that it also points to the apparent improper use of a Government office to engage in lobbying.
“While the Government is attempting to fail the reporter in her attempt to find linkages between the Vice President and Mr.Su’s questionable dealing and arrangements, the fact that the Vice President acknowledged his relationship with Mr. Su demonstrated by his warm welcome of the Chinese businessman and the journalist posing as his secretary and his conversation with them speaks volumes.
“Furthermore, the fact that Mr.Su can actually say the things he said about Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, is not only extremely worrying to every law-abiding citizen, but has enormous potentials to negatively affect the national image and reputation of Guyana”, Forde said.
No amount of denial and public relations spin can negate this scandal.
“If this worrying and disturbing situation does not warrant an investigation or a Commission of Inquiry I don’t know what else is worthy of such an inquiry in this country”, Forde added.
He said that the recent unilateral appointment of the Integrity Commission and other “suspicious moves” of the government have compounded the institutional weaknesses of the State which facilitate such corrupt practices and arrangements.
Forde said that it is important for Guyanese to know that he has prepared an appropriate Bill to be tabled in the National Assembly to eradicate lobbying.
“Guyana is not for sale”, he said, as he called for Jagdeo to resign.
In a statement, the Alliance For Change called for an immediate independent probe and audit into the procurement and awarding of contracts in Guyana.
“We further demand that a leading internationally recognized auditing firm conducts this investigation”, it said in response to the VICE programme.
It added that the awarding of contracts to extract the country’s natural resources must comply with standard international best practices, the laws and regulations of Guyana.
“Additionally, we expect this investigation to make recommendations on their findings and changes in the legal and regulatory framework in the award of large contracts and the disposal of the national resources of the county as may be necessary”, it added.
