Guyanese anxiously await the official release of the Vice News report which many believe will center on corruption allegations against Vice President (VP) BharratJagdeo. Calls continue to mount for the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) to commence an investigation into the conduct of the Vice President.
The latest person to lend his voice to the call for an investigation is former Presidential Candidate and Social Commentator Mark Benschop. In a letter that was recently dispatched to the Head of the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) Superintendent Fazil Karimbaksh the former political prisoner noted that it is the responsibility of the GPF to investigate allegations of corruption made against public officials.
The letter stated, “Attention is drawn to an interview between Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo and Ms. Isobel Yeung, Correspondent of U.S-based Vice News, released to the public on February 9, 2022, via Mr. Jagdeo. In said interview the VP accepted knowing Mr. Su Zhi Rong (also known as Su Zhirong) and stated, “He is a tenant in my place.”
Enquiring about alleged corrupt practices in the PPP/C government, Ms. Yeung asked the VP, “What about within your government, do you accept bribes?” The VP’s response was “No.” Ms. Yeung proceeded further, stated, “We have spoken to a number of Chinese business people in Guyana who said you do accept bribes. And they said in fact it’s the only way to get business done is to bribe you. One Chinese business person we have spoken (to) involved in timber logging said that basically as long as the Vice-President is okay with it, it’s fine. He just needs to give one phone call to whoever is in charge, and they will get it done right away. The real big boss is the Vice-President, and everything is under the table. The whole country is like this.”
Mr. Su Zhi Rong, was named as the person who, “Claims that he has a very close relationship with [Mr. Jagdeo], he is able to get any deal done.” Subsequent to the corruption allegation, a statement, purportedly issued by Mr. Zhi Rong, was released to the media on February 9, 2022, stating, “I, Su Zhi Rong, wish to state categorically that have never solicited any bribe/inducement from any company or individual for either myself or any government official including the Vice President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. I wish to refute strongly any suggestion that I acted on behalf of any government official, that I presented myself as a representative of anyone, or that I promised any favor or business-related reward. I have already engaged with my legal representatives on these false reports and fabrications.”
Further, since both the interview and purported statement by Mr. Zhi Rong, Stabroek News (February 28, 2022) carried a story of the named individual’s business activities in Guyana. Said story detailed involvement in the quarry, lumber and fuel businesses. In the article Su Zhi Rong is stated to have been doing business in Guyana since before 2006 and has at least one lumber concession, Rong–An Inc. Company, which was registered in 2006. Mr. Jagdeo was President of Guyana from August 11, 1999- December 3, 2011
Any allegation of bribe or corruption attributed to a government official in order to execute government duty/work, award contracts, etc., constitutes a crime against the State and must be reported and investigated. Denial of allegation is not sufficient to remove doubt or secure public confidence in government or the particular official(s). The allegations of corrupt practices involving the VP are deserving of being investigated by the Special Organized Crime Unit, which was established to among other things, investigate “financial crimes”.
Consequently, the above information, which has been in the public for a month, is being submitted to the Unit for the purpose of pursuing the necessary investigation(s) and executing the required action(s).
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