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The police has a right to search a suspect's residence, BUT can they do so  without a search warrant ? Maybe only in Guyana. 

This reminds me of the old days in the logies. When a manager accompanied by the police, would LITERALLY kick open the front door and search for suspected stolen sugar. All the kids in the house would start crying from fear. 

Indians would tell false stories about other Indians and most times nothing was found.  

Tola
@Ramakant-P posted:

Somebody hollering 'Murder'.   The Police made a mistake and the PPP is being blamed for this episode.  It was OK when Ramjattan and Moses went after the PPP in 2015 but it is not Ok now. A large crowd is gathering in front of Jones's residence behaving badly.

Looks like beefstake!!! probably political direction .

Django
Last edited by Django

Police attempt to search PNCR’s Chris Jones’ home for “state assets”; he calls it “wicked political vindictiveness”

The items stored at Christopher Jones’ residence.

Police on Thursday night turned up at the Tucville, Georgetown home of People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) executive member Christopher Jones to conduct a raid for several pieces of barbershop equipment worth more than GYD$4 million that were funded by a government project.

Up to about 8:30 PM, police from the Major Crimes Unit were outside Jones’ residence where party supporters thronged in solidarity with the former Director of Sport.

He told News-Talk Radio Guyana 103,1 FM/ Demerara Waves Online News that the law enforcement agents said they were there for “asset recovery”- barber chairs and air condition units  but he refused to let them inside on the grounds that they needed a search warrant.

Mr. Jones slammed the police action, saying that that was all part of a witch-hunt by the 18-day old People’s Progressive Party (PPP)-led  administration. “This is political vindictiveness and nothing else but set out to embarass me and I am pretty certain it is going to happen to quite a few other persons. It is wicked political vindictiveness,” he said.

He said a proposal was approved and the items procured under the then Ministry of Social Protection’s Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme. “I have no idea that I have State assets in my possession,” Mr. Jones said.

He explained that the items were stored away until the recent political storm over the outcome of the March 2, 2020 general and regional elections as over before construction of the barber shop commenced.

Attorney-at-Law Darren Wade (left) and Christopher Jones speaking with Acting Chief Justice Brassington Reynolds. A request was made for an injunction to restrain the police from searching Mr. Jones premises unlawfully.

In audit documents released by the Minister of Public Affairs Kwame McCoy, GYD$$4.084 million was paid to Dominion Enterprise and GYD$$900,999 to Gafsons Industries were paid in June , 2019. The audit document states that “a physical inspection of the assets purchased revealed that items valuing $4.084M were still not put into use, since these items were stored in a room at the residence of the beneficiary Mr. Christopher Jones.” The items are 18 Apollo professional barber chairs worth GYD$2,556,000 and one condensing unit 208/230 voltage air handler single piece electric kit valued GYD$1,528,000.

Further, the audit states that details of a letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Protection dated 22 May 2019, states that the items were to be procured for the beneficiary who ‘operates’ a barber shop.

The document, however, states that at the time of the physical verification it was discovered that the beneficiary does not operate a barber shop, since construction of the said barber shop has not yet commenced.

Mr. Jones insisted that all of the procedures were followed and there was nothing irregular about the transaction.

Attorney-at-Law Darren Wade said the police refused to speak with acting Chief Justice Brassington Reynolds via WhatsApp to hear their side. Mr. Wade said constitutional relief would be sought from the High Court on Friday.

Speaking with reporters outside Mr. Jones’ residence, PNCR Executive Member Aubrey Norton vowed that the PPP would not be allowed to behave in the same manner as they had done during their 1992 to 2015 administration. Mr. Norton also urged police not to execute unlawful instructions. “The Guyana Police Force must know that they are expected to uphold the law, not violate the law by going and search people  while protecting criminals,” he said.

Referring to the police killing of people during that PPP administration, Mr. Norton vowed that “we will bring out our supporters and fight them; they will kill no more of us.”

A PNCR supporter, who was at the scene, said there was a power outage in the area of Jones’ residence all afternoon.

Django

In order to correct the corruption of the past 5 years the current government has to take strict and drastic steps which will sometimes include search and seizures. The search has to be legal though. The question is why are these items stores at Jones' residence and where is he really in the construction of that barber shop. Or is that barber shop construction just a ruse.

FM
@Tola posted:

The police has a right to search a suspect's residence, BUT can they do so  without a search warrant ? Maybe only in Guyana. 

This reminds me of the old days in the logies. When a manager accompanied by the police, would LITERALLY kick open the front door and search for suspected stolen sugar. All the kids in the house would start crying from fear. 

Indians would tell false stories about other Indians and most times nothing was found.  

You lie!

R
@Tola posted:

The police has a right to search a suspect's residence, BUT can they do so  without a search warrant ? Maybe only in Guyana. 

This reminds me of the old days in the logies. When a manager accompanied by the police, would LITERALLY kick open the front door and search for suspected stolen sugar. All the kids in the house would start crying from fear. 

Indians would tell false stories about other Indians and most times nothing was found.  

You claim you live there and experience daily living and never saw police shake down under the PNC. And yet have the cajones to accuse Indians of telling false stories....look in the mirror...

sachin_05
Last edited by sachin_05
@Ramakant-P posted:

These criminals forgot that they did the same to the PPP in 2015. They created a whole new department to harass the PPP members. They then took the assets and kept them for themselves.

One correction. The PPP does not behave vindictively. That is the PNC's mantra as evidenced by their behavior following the unconfirmed 2015 general elections results.

FM
@Tola posted:

The police has a right to search a suspect's residence, BUT can they do so  without a search warrant ? Maybe only in Guyana. 

This reminds me of the old days in the logies. When a manager accompanied by the police, would LITERALLY kick open the front door and search for suspected stolen sugar. All the kids in the house would start crying from fear

Indians would tell false stories about other Indians and most times nothing was found.  

Never heard of this in Skeldon.

FM
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  • Police to seize barbershop equipment in $4.9M project for Chris Jones

Police to seize barbershop equipment in $4.9M project for Chris Jones

1
 

The Police on Thursday night attempted to seize barber shop equipment stored at the Tucville, Georgetown home of former Director of Sports Christopher Jones.

However, the Police had no warrant to carry out the search and seizure and will guard the house overnight and return Friday morning with the warrant.

An audit conducted showed that the Ministry of Social Protection approved the disbursement of $4.9 million under the Region Four administration for the procurement of equipment for a barbershop under the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme.

A Financial Return presented revealed that the full amount was spent by December 31, 2019, but almost $1 million in items were not actually delivered and the project was not executed and some of the equipment were stored at Jones’ home.

Details of the purchases were:

Item  Quantity     Amount

Apollo Professional barber chairs      18     2,556,000

Condensing unit 208/230 Voltage Air Handler Single Piece Electric Kit 10Kw  1       1,528,000

48” x 48” 6mm Mirror    18     144,000

2” x 2” Gypsum Ceiling Tiles   732   370,000

10ft Main Tee       140   87,000

2ft Cross Tee        710   181,000

10ft Wall Angle     22     8,000

VAT   14%   111,000

Total  1641

$4,985, 000

An examination of the payment voucher and Regional Procurement and Tender Administration Board (RPTAB) Minutes revealed the following:

  1. a) Approval was not granted from RPTAB for the procurement of a Condensing Unit valuing $1.528M. However, audit checks revealed that the item was still purchased and supplied.
  2. b) PV № 74005202 remained on the list of outstanding cheque orders for 2019. Further, audit checks revealed that the cheque was paid to the supplier on 2 October 2019. However, at the time of reporting in August 2020, items to the value of $900,999 were not supplied. The table below provides a summary of the outstanding items:

Item  Quantity    Amount

48” x 48” 6mm Mirror    18     144,000

2” x 2” Gypsum Ceiling Tiles   732   370,000

10ft Main Tee       140   87,000

2ft Cross Tee        710   181,000

10ft Wall Angle     22     8,000

VAT   14%   111,000

Total  1622

$901,000

  1. A physical inspection of the assets purchased revealed that items valuing $4.084M were still not put into use, since these items were stored in a room at the residence of the beneficiary Mr. Christopher Jones. Details are in the table below:

Item  Quantity    Amount

Apollo Professional barber chairs      18     2,556,000

Condensing unit 208/230 Voltage Air Handler Single Piece Electric Kit 10Kw  1       1,528,000

Total  19

$4,084,000

  1. Details of a letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Protection dated 22 May 2019, states that the items were to be procured for the beneficiary who ‘operates’ a barber shop.

However, at the time of the physical verification it was discovered that the beneficiary does not operate a barber shop, since construction of the said barbershop has not yet commenced as can be seen in the image below:

https://newsroom.gy/2020/08/20...ect-for-chris-jones/

FM
Last edited by Former Member

APNU/AFC spent $4.9M to equip non-existent barber shop

â€Ķitems reportedly stored at Christopher Jones’ home

Police have applied for a search warrant to gain access to the home of senior A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) official, Christopher Jones, after it was allegedly reported that $4.9 million in barbershop equipment purchased by the former Administration is stored on his property.

Items which Police were trying to recover on Thursday evening

However, when Police went to the home of the former Director of Sports, in Tucville, Georgetown, they were refused entry and told to get a search warrant. By this time, several APNU officials, including Executives of both People’s National Congress (PNC) and Alliance for Change (AFC), also turned up at the property as Police stood guard.
According to audit documents seen by this publication, the regional administration received an Inter/Intra Departmental Warrant (IDW) ? 6/2019 dated June 19, 2019, from the Social Protection Ministry valuing $4.985 million for the procurement of equipment for the barbershop under Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED). A Financial Return presented revealed that the full amount was expended as at December 31, 2019. An audit examination of the relevant records revealed that the warrant was expended via two payment vouchers to the value of $4.084 million and $900,999. Audit documents revealed that approval was not granted from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) for the procurement of a Condensing Unit valuing $1.528 million. However, audit checks revealed that the item was still purchased and supplied. Additionally, further, audit checks revealed that the cheque was paid to the supplier on October 2, 2019, but the time of reporting in August 2020, items to the value of $900,999 were not supplied.

Items which were paid for by Government for the non-existent barbershop but were not supplied

Meanwhile, the audit report stated that a physical inspection of the assets purchased revealed that items valuing $4.084 million were still not put into use, since these items were stored in a room at the residence of the beneficiary, Christopher Jones. Further, the audit report stated that details of a letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Social Protection Ministry dated May 22, 2019, states that the items were to be procured for the beneficiary who “operates” a barbershop. However, at the time of the physical verification, it was discovered that the beneficiary does not operate a barbershop, since the construction of the said barbershop has not yet commenced.

https://guyanatimesgy.com/apnu...xistent-barber-shop/

FM
Last edited by Former Member
@Django posted:

Do you know how Christopher Jones get the barber shop equipment ?

Address the issue not DJ .

Firstly, your title of this thread stated: 

"Police harassment of former Director of Sports Christopher Jones."

All media reports are providing evidence that appear to prove otherwise.

Is the Guyana media harassing Jones ?

This matter will be for the courts to decide. These alleged criminal activities are being investigated. The police are doing their jobs. 

 

FM
@Former Member posted:

Firstly, your title of this thread stated: 

"Police harassment of former Director of Sports Christopher Jones."

All media reports are providing evidence that appear to prove otherwise.

Is the Guyana media harassing Jones ?

This matter will be for the courts to decide. These alleged criminal activities are being investigated. The police are doing their jobs.

Do you know how Christopher Jones get the barber shop equipment ?

Django
21st August 2020
Dear Editor,
An apology is owed to Christopher Jones and a more mature approach to sensitive issues adopted.
The facts are that Chris Jones applied for a grant from the Ministry of Social Services and was awarded $4.9 Million to equip a Barbershop and employ twenty persons. Equipment was purchased and delivered to Jones as the 'beneficiary' of a government grant. The project was delayed and the equipment was retained by the legal owner (Jones). An audit revealed that the items were all together and not sold or disposed of in any way.
To make a charge of larceny because the project has not materialized is ludicrous in extremis and certainly not a position any reasonable person can support. Whatever the reason for the project stalling, and there are numerous to choose from; NCM or endless political campaigning since December 21, 2018, for example. What then should be the approach?
I would suggest that:
1. Someone from a relevant Ministry reaches out to Jones and offers to assist with the establishment of the Barbershop business.
2. Should Jones not be interested in the project at this stage, he be asked to return the equipment voluntarily.
3. There is no case to be made for larceny or any other illegality and that must be discontinued immediately.
4. The Guyana Police Force needs to carefully consider its actions and professionalism, their actions on the night of the 20th August does not do them credit.
Respectfully
Robin Singh
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/118241765_10164479908530497_8430452156775786134_o.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=H_HDFe8-P0oAX8OlOzw&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.xx&oh=1d34c9f7fdc458aa47f7fd985c1fd722&oe=5F65259B
Django

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