The PNCR/APNU has come out in defence of former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, who is facing a fresh “misconduct in public office” charge. The development comes months after a similar charge against him was dismissed
The PNCR/APNU is dubbing this new charge as an act of “victimisation” by the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), urging Guyanese to denounce these alleged attempts to silence the former minister.
“We call on all Guyanese to join in condemning the re-arrest of former minister Winston Jordan on similar bogus charges that were dismissed by the courts of Guyana before. Mr Jordan’s re-arrest is a malicious and vindictive act by an increasingly unhinged PPP regime to silence those who seek to expose it.
“As is well known, the former Finance Minister continues to enlighten citizens on the PPP’s abuses and incompetence in managing the economy and, in particular, the country’s vast oil wealth,” the party said in a statement on Tuesday.
It also noted that the similar case against Jordan, brought by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force, was dismissed by the Magistrates’ Court in May 2023, almost two years ago.
“Let us recall that the courts have previously described the PPP regime’s charges against Mr Jordan as unjustified and examples of blatant prosecutorial misconduct.”
The party said that it will defend the rights and freedoms of its former Minister of Finance “all the way.”
Jordan appeared on Monday morning at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer to a misconduct in public office charge which alleges that he sold state property valued $150 million for $2.4 million.
Jordan, accompanied by his lawyer, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, appeared before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore.
The charge states that between February 25, 2020, and June 11, 2020, Jordan signed a vesting order for 5-acres of state property way below market value. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted $150,000 bail.
Jordan is expected to make his next court appearance on April 23, 2025.
