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Following misappropriation allegations…No-confidence motion moved against Bar Association President
Following allegations that she had misappropriated funds acquired from the sale of land left in her care, a vote of no- confidence was moved against the President of the Guyana Bar Association, Gem Sandford- Johnson.
The Bar Association President allegedly misappropriated funds acquired from the sale of a property belonging to US-based Guyanese, Elsa Eileen Harper.
Harper had filed a writ in the High Court through Attorney -at- Law, Ronald Birch-Smith last month. In the court document, the woman was requesting that Sanford- Johnson pay outstanding monies from the sale of property amounting to $32.5M.
According to the statement of claim, Harper, who is unmarried and has no children, had suffered a stroke and became incapacitated.
As a result, Sandford-Johnson was instructed by Harper to sell immovable property owned by her at 246 Forshaw Street, Queenstown Georgetown.
Sanford-Johnson was therefore appointed Power of Attorney of Harper’s property. According to initial court documents the Bar Association President afterward entered into an agreement of sale for the property to Paul Daby Jr. and Michelle Daby for the sum of $35M on June 15, 2015.
But, following the sale, the plaintiff said that Sanford-Johnson only wired to the plaintiff the sum of US$11,838.81 which amounted $2,486,150 of the total GY$35M.
The ailing woman had claimed that she has since been unable to reach Sanford-Johnson.
A source close to the issue explained that shortly after the allegation surfaced, Mrs. Sanford – Johnson was asked for explanation from the Bar Association as it regards to the matter but she offered none.
Controversial Bar Association President, Gem Sandford-Johnson
As a result, the executive members called a special meeting and the no-confidence motion was passed after it received full support from the executive. However, according to the information reaching this newspaper, Sanford –Johnson has refused to step down.
The source further explained that “as President of the Bar Association, if you are implicated in any form of malfeasance, the honourable thing to do, would be to step down.”
However, Mrs. Sanford – Johnson has been adamant in her bid to remain in the position.
Consequently, the source added that at least three members of the executive committee have since left the Bar Association.
“The members would have resigned as matter of principle; no one wants to sit under someone in which they have no-confidence.”
Efforts made to contact, Sanford –Johnson for an official comment have proven futile. However in an affidavit in response to the claims, Sanford-Johnson had denied the allegations. She instead claimed that she could not locate the plaintiff, since she moved across the United States. The Bar Association head therefore contended that she was unable to pay the monies because she had not known where the woman had relocated.
The Guyana Bar Association is an umbrella organisation under which several members of the local bar are collectively represented. Part of the Association’s mandate is to deal with all matters affecting the legal profession and to take such action thereon as may be deemed expedient to promote, preserve, regulate and protects its interests.
According to the mission statement, the organisation is to act as a representative of the Bar and to answer questions and lay down the ground rules regarding the etiquette and practice of the legal profession and to uphold the rule of law.
Gem- Sanford Gem was elected President of Bar Association on May 27, 2016. Her term in Office is expected to last for a period of one year.
As part of her work, Sanford- Johnson had said she intended to put on the front burner the issue of prescriptive rights.
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