Georgetown, Guyana – Former Finance Minister Winston Jordan is once again in the spotlight as he faces a fresh charge of misconduct in public office. The charge, brought by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), stems from the controversial sale of over five acres of state land at Goedverwagting and Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, during his tenure under the former APNU+AFC administration.
Jordan appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where the charge was formally read to him. The prosecution alleges that between February 25 and June 11, 2020, Jordan willfully misconducted himself by signing vesting order #69 of 2020. This order transferred the land—valued at $150 million—for just $2.4 million, a price deemed grossly undervalued and an abuse of public trust.
As an indictable offence, Jordan was not required to enter a plea. He was represented by attorneys Roysdale Forde and Dawn Cush, who argued that their client poses no flight risk and has consistently attended court for previous matters. Cush described Jordan as a man of “good character” and criticized the case as politically motivated, pointing out that a similar charge against him had been dismissed by the court in 2023.
The SOCU prosecutor did not oppose bail but requested a substantial sum due to the financial magnitude of the alleged misconduct. After hearing submissions from both sides, Magistrate Azore granted bail in the amount of $150,000 and adjourned the matter to April 23.
This latest charge adds to Jordan’s legal troubles, as he has faced previous allegations of misconduct in public office. In December 2021, he was charged in connection with the sale of state property to BK Marines Limited for $20 million—far below its estimated value of over $5 billion. That case was dismissed after Senior Magistrate Leron Daly ruled that prosecutors failed to establish key elements of the charge.
Jordan’s legal team maintains that these charges are politically driven efforts to tarnish his reputation. Meanwhile, critics have raised concerns about the repeated pursuit of similar cases against him despite prior dismissals by the courts. As investigations continue, this new development raises broader questions about governance and accountability in Guyana’s political landscape.
