Latest update March 21st, 2025 7:03 AM
Latest News
Westford trial delayed by High Court ruling
The trial of PPP parliamentarian, Jennifer Westford, and her former Personal Assistant, Margaret Cummings, which was scheduled to start yesterday, has been adjourned until May 6 on request of their Attorneys.
The lawyers say that they are awaiting the ruling in a High Court matter. That action was filed in relation to the matter.
Westford and Cummings are facing charges for the alleged attempted larceny and forgery of documents for the purchase of eight state vehicles
However, Police Prosecutor, Corporal Bharrat Mangru indicated that no High Court proceeding was filed with the prosecution or the court. The prosecution was ready to commence with the trial and had three witnesses present in court.
Last August, the former Minister was placed on $800,000 bail after she pleaded not guilty to the charges. The charges alleged that between July 17, 2014 and June 23, 2015, Westford attempted to transfer eight state vehicles to four persons.
Margaret Cummings was also slapped with four counts of forgery. Cummings pleaded not guilty to four charges which alleged that she forged documents for the purchase of the eight motor vehicles. She has been released on a total of $1.2M bail.
According to court facts, Westford was employed as Minister of Public Service from 2001-2015, while her co-accused was the Principal Personnel Officer of the Ministry. Cummings was also in charge of the Ministry’s accounts department. It was discovered that on 24 occasions Westford signed a memoranda amounting to $639.4M and sent it to the Office of the President for approval.
Approval was granted and cheques were prepared and encashed by the Bank of Guyana. It was revealed that the monies were requested to carryout various activities throughout the 10 Administrative Regions. But personnel from the various Regions were contacted and denied ever receiving the cash. Investigations were carried out and no money was recovered.
Westford of Lot 55 ‘AA’ Victoria Avenue, Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and Cummings, a mother of three, of 709 Section A Diamond EBD are being represented by a team of Attorneys Rexford McKay (S.C) and Mr. Neil Boston, Keisha Chase, Eusi Anderson, Bibi Shaddick, Brandon Glasford and Dexter Todd.
Last year June, Minister of State Joseph Harmon, had told the media that it was brought to his attention that some documents were sent to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), 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 GRA for the transfer of eight vehicles.
In light of the overwhelming evidence, the vehicles were returned to the government.
In February, Westford and Cummings were each released on $4.8M bail after denying a total 24 charges which allege that they stole over $639M, while being employed in the Public Service.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
“One Guyana” is no less a national slogan than “Green Guyana”
Kaieteur News- The notion that “One Guyana” is a partisan slogan is pure poppycock. It is a desperate fiction... more
If Guyana’s President Ali is the “Zelensky of the Caribbean”, who is the Putin?
Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS, Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- In the latest... more
Weekend Cartoon
