Vice President and leader of the People’s Progressive Party, Bharrat Jagdeo has been ordered by the High Court to pay former Government Minister Annette Ferguson $20 million for libel.
Ferguson moved to the court after Jagdeo accused her gifting herself several plots of land while she was communities Minister with responsibility for housing.
According to Ferguson at the time when the allegations hit the press, she felt really hurt, her entire family was hurt and exposed. She recalls the many days her siblings complained of members of the public pointing fingers at them and making all sorts of remarks at them
The former Minister said she never committed a crime. She noted that she applied for a house lot, like every other Guyanese and was allocated just one plot of land.
She added that Jagdeo made those utterances without any evidence to prove what he was saying. According to Ferguson, God is always on her side as she reiterated that she feels vindicated.
The matter was heard before Justice Sandra Kurtzious who ruled that Jagdeo must pay Ferguson $20 million and cost in the sum of $75,000.
According to the order, should Jagdeo fail to pay the sum then he could face imprisonment or have his assets confiscated.