The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) , Shalimar Hack on Monday quashed the private criminal charges filed in the courts by the Opposition Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) against two government ministers.

The DPP dropped the charges , which were filed against Minister of Public Health , Volda Lawrence and Former Minister of Public Health , Dr George Norton , on the grounds that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) would have had to investigate the allegations and following an investigation, seek advice from her chambers.

Charges against former Finance Minister under the PPP administration, Dr Ashni Singh and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington were filed on April 12, 2018,  for three counts of misconduct in public office, contrary to the common law.

The duo is required to appear before Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan to answer to three charges of misconduct in public office, contrary to the public law on May 7.

According to the charges filed by the SOCU, Dr Singh and Brassington “acted recklessly” when they sold to National Hardware Guyana Limited lands amounting to 103.88 acres, property of the state for the sum of $598,659,398 (vat exclusive) without first having procured a valuation of the said property from a competent valuation officer.

The second charge alleged that the duo “without due diligence” sold to Scady Business Corporation state land, located at Liliendaal, ECD amounting to 4,700 acres, for the sum of $150,000,000 knowing that the said property was valued at $340,000,000 by Rodrigues Architects Associate.

While the final charge alleges that Dr Singh and the former NICIL CEO “acted recklessly” when they sold to Multi-cinemas Guyana Inc. 10, 002 acres of state land located at Turkeyen, ECD, for the sum of $185,037,000 without first having procured a valuation of the said property from a competent valuation officer.

One week after, attorney representing Dr Singh and Brassington, Anil Nandlall, filed private criminal charges against two sitting ministers of the coalition government , Minister of Public Health , Volda Lawrence and Former Minister of Public Health , Dr George Norton. Nandalall also wrote the DPP requesting that she review the charges and withdraw same.

The PPP on Monday morning filed additional charges against three government ministers; Minister of Finance , Winston Jordan; Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, and former Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine.

The charges allege misconduct in public office in connection with the alleged misuse of public funds and donations for the construction of D’urban/Jubilee Park in 2016.

Reports are that the DPP is expected to drop those charges this week.

Below is a copy of the full statement released by the DPP Chambers on Monday.

“The private criminal charges for the offence of Misconduct in Public Office, contrary to the Common Law instituted against Ministers Volda Lawrence and George Norton were discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions under Article 187 (1) ( c) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

These charges concern a grave issue under the criminal law in relation to two serving Ministers. In the interest of good governance in the State of Guyana such allegations ought first to have been reported to the Guyana Police Force for an investigation to be launched and the advice of the DPP sought.”