Latest update January 23rd, 2025 6:24 AM
Jagdeo must report fuel smuggling ring – Minister of State
Minister Joseph Harmon has denied claims by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, that there are three fuel smuggling gangs being supported by the government.
Opposition Leader
Bharrat Jagdeo
Jagdeo said at a recent press conference at Freedom House that his party had brought this matter to the attention of the ruling administration but nothing was done.
He said that one gang consists of businessmen that are sympathetic to the Alliance for Change (AFC) while the second gang is being headed by a prominent lawyer – who is the relative of a top government official. The third gang contains people who Jagdeo claimed are known.
Jagdeo told reporters that the members of this alleged third gang recently acquired licenses to import fuel and that this was written about in the mainstream media.
Towards this end, the former head of state admonished the media to ‘throw some rocks in the bushes’.
According to Jagdeo, the gangs are very huge and are marauding with the executive squarely in their corner.
Harmon said yesterday that if Jagdeo is aware of a serious fuel smuggling ring, it is his duty as a citizen, his duty as the Leader of the Opposition to report that information to the police.
“I don’t want him to report that to the Ministry of the Presidency. Let him report it to the police and let the police do their work.
“We have allowed the police unfettered access to persons who are the subject of investigations. They’ve come in here to the Ministry (of the Presidency) (and) we’ve given them unfettered access to our Permanent Secretary and several other officers within the Ministry.” Harmon said.
The Minister observed that Jagdeo seems to be “having a lot of information these days” and implored the former President to “say who these people are.”
“Certainly, the administration will never encourage something like that because a fuel smuggling ring suggests there is some illegal operation taking place and we will never be part of such activities – I can say that.” Harmon said.
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