The Opposition moved to the courts and filed charges against three ministers in the coalition Government in relation to the controversial D’Urban Park project.
These private criminal charges were filed against Finance Minister, Winston Jordan; Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson and Public Service Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, as the attorney and Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Juan Edghill as an applicant.
The charges against the ministers alleged breach of the Procurement Act, in relation to the expenditure of $906 million in public funds to a private company, Homestretch Development Inc for the construction of the controversial D’Urban Park project which has been a contentious issue for some time now.
Jordan and Patterson have been jointly charged with misconduct and abuse of public trust for having allegedly authorised the payment, while Dr Roopnaraine, who was a director of the company, has been charged with alleged misconduct and the abuse of public trust for having received in his capacity as director the $906M in public funds while serving as minister.