Let the chips fall where they may

This week, Deputy Police Commissioner Calvin Brutus was on the hot seat. Months of investigations by the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) led to 30 charges against him, which led to the payment of $6.2 million to secure bail. In some cases, he was charged along with his wife and the driver.

The charges relate to money laundering, defrauding the Guyana Police Force, misconduct in public office, obtaining money by false pretense of theft and public servant’s liability.
Brutus also faces 210 other charges, but has promised to “talk everything out,” according to Big Smith Crime News. The deputy commissioner said, according to the media, that “all the evidence” as to why the state and SOCU are after him will be revealed in court when the constitutional motion is heard. He has consistently claimed there was political interference in the SOCU investigation into him and his wife.
People’s Progressive Party General Secretary Dr Bharrat Jagdeo said anyone involved in corruption would face the music and be investigated. Neither he nor the Irfaan Ali administration has zero tolerance for corruption and therefore any action against the senior officer would be based on the advice of SOCU and the DPP. So the PPP government would take an independent approach.

Dr Jagdeo, again on Thursday, reiterated that the government was unmoved and unfazed by Brutus’ reported claims that he would “talk all” or “let the cat…out of the bag”. The government stood behind SOCU in this matter and was preparing to answer every claim made in Brutus’ motion before the court. He pointed out that the senior policeman had the right to take legal action if he felt his rights were violated, just as any citizen is entitled to do.

“We’re not afraid of anything he wants to say, we’ll deal with that later at the right time, but do you see us worried about it? Jagdeo asked after stating that “he could let out cats, dogs, pigs whatever he has and wants to come out, let him come out.

“He hopes that perhaps there will be a fear in some parts of the government that he might say something to compromise us and that they will yield to see that justice is done; he needs to think again if that is the case,” the secretary general said.

He disputed that the opposition was apparently siding with Brutus and demonstrated their duplicity and hypocrisy on the matter. After the Alliance for Change (AFC) and the Reform National People’s Congress (PNC/R) had already reprimanded Dr. Jagdeo for his comments on the matter, he pointed out the very scary and worrying comments that their party would be done while they were trying to collect. on the Brutus matter, milking it for all its worth.
On Friday, Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton claimed the inquiry was a sham and Dr Jagdeo had deviated because he knew Brutus would scream sooner or later. Norton accused Jagdeo and the government of corruption and said they had links to the underworld. He and APNU MP Ganesh Mahipaul took the government to task over its handling of the whole Brutus matter, asking “who gave the instructions” to use SWAT in the case and a host of other questions.

Norton reiterated his call for an international inquiry, saying the government cannot use the police to investigate the police. Using his solid facial expression, Norton raged and raged against Dr. Jagdeo and the PPP for trying to “cover up” the relationship with Brutus and the higher command of the police force.

Unfortunately, Brutus withdrew the constitutional motion he had brought against the government; he was very confident in this move. It wasted the court’s time and our imaginations. He signaled his intention to file another less dramatic appeal. Does that mean he wouldn’t do all the talking? Or does he think the government will not insist that the SOCU and DPP proceed with the other charges if they find sufficient evidence?
First, Brutus should be forced to resign now that he is accused of money laundering and other crimes. The other police officer should also have the same or similar action against him. If the government is serious about money laundering and protecting the Guyana Police Force from further tarnishing its reputation, it should act now and provide oversight advice on this matter.
Brutus and the other cop should be evicted from police headquarters for the duration of the trial while they prove their innocence. After that, and only after the outcome of these court actions, the eviction should be reconsidered.

The Deputy Commissioner should also stop collecting his other payments and allowances from the aggrieved public treasury while the suit is pending. In other words, Brutus should use his time and legal status to defend himself and let the chips fall where they may, but the government needs to protect itself and the reputation of the police force.
Second, regardless of how Brutus or the opposition feel, the government through the words and actions of the Secretary General, who is also the Vice President, along with the Home Secretary, must ensure that they follow the law. All the things and contacts I make in this matter should be able to stand the scrutiny and test of time. Money laundering is a felony and all other charges brought against Brutus so far.

The government must know that others who are guilty and have a vested interest in the Brutus matter are looking and watching. He must not crack under pressure and if he is accused of politically influencing the proceedings, he must be able to defend himself publicly with clear facts and information. The PPP/C administration needs to be seen and heard supporting SOCU and the DPP as they prosecute this case against Brutus and others.
Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall needs to arm himself and the state counsels with the best kind of legal representation. This is an interesting case that all of Guyana will be watching closely as the elections approach.

Third, the opposition is weak and useless. Norton and Mahipaul belong to the dustbins of politics. Their arguments are the “same old” arguments they made about Dr. Jagdeo and PPP and without any proof. They are like talking heads, even if the issue is serious and troubling.
Norton, for example, is so caught up in trying to score the cheapest political points that he misses the point entirely. He shoots a ball and misses the ring. He can’t wait to show how verbose he can be and doesn’t realize he’s saying “nothing” important.

Mahipaul knows this so he steps in and tries to save the day by asking questions about the issue to try and undermine the PPP and Dr. Jagdeo. He, on the other hand, fails to meet the mark. Both parties are so busy hurling venomous words at the PPP that they fail to see the bigger picture. The government can probably give them glasses because it’s clear as day.
If there had been an effective opposition group, both Nigel Hughes and Norton would have made sure they stood firmly behind the government and the police force on this issue of money laundering and fraud allegations against Brutus. It would have been fated in SOCU and the DPP to prosecute the offenders regardless.

By not siding with the government, they send a signal to criminals and would-be criminals. They place their self-interest and their political interests before that of the state and the people. The time for polls and political questions is not now, they are expected to give government all political support to end the reign of financial criminals and protect Guyana from money launderers.
Why the change of position? Why the defense of Brutus’ opposition? Is he secretly one of their financiers for the 2025 elections? Something doesn’t seem right! Norton and Mahipaul spent a lot of time justifying the unjust and illegal growth of wealth that would sicken any healthy child or adult who saw them in action.

Finally, Dr. Jagdeo is clear. Let the chips fall where they may. Once the government’s hands and pockets are cleaned of all dirty money and money laundering proceeds, it must show strength in this matter. There should be zero tolerance for corruption and fraud. There must be no compromise for cops or thieves once found with a hand in the public’s purse or laundering money.
The lowest denominators are those who sit on the fence or bleed from behind because they stand on the truth. Maybe they are opposition because they want politicians and foreigners to solve the puzzle when there is nothing wrong with the DPP, POLICE and judiciary here trying this matter. They want us to spend millions for foreigners to fight another case all the way to the CCJ when the truth is not hidden. It’s there in dollars and cents for all to see.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Guyana National Newspapers Limited.