Former GPL Director placed on $1M bail – on ‘fraud’ charges

Former Director of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc., Mr Carvil Duncan, was today placed on $1M bail after he made his appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan  at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court,  on separate charges of simple larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny.

Duncan’s appearance in court today came several months after he, along with  former Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO)  of  GPL, Aeshwar Deonarine, were accused of being involved in a multi-million-dollar fraud at the power company.

It is alleged that the 73-year-old Duncan, who is also President  of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), on March 31, 2015 at Georgetown, fraudulently benefited from $984,900, property of GPL..

Another charge stated that on the same day at Georgetown, he conspired with Aeshwar Deonarine to benefit $984,900, property of GPL.

It was further alleged that he conspired with another to commit a felony, which is that between May 7 and 8 at Georgetown, he conspired with Deonarine for Deonarine to benefit $27,757,500, property of GPL.

Duncan, of Lot 1977 Lanstead Road, Festival City, Georgetown was represented in Court today by Attorney-at Law, Charles Ramson Jnr., who argued that his client has a credible defence and would not flee the jurisdiction since he has national ties with Guyana.

Meanwhile, last November, a former member of the GPL Board of Directors, Duncan, stated clearly that he has no intentions of repaying the monies, which were deposited into his private bank account – making clear there was nothing illegal about the payments made.

In speaking to reporters, at the time, Duncan said  he has been working for the Power Company for approximately 10 years and was only paid for 48 months. Duncan has severed as a Director on the former GPL Board for more than four years and payments had not been made to Directors for the last seven to eight years.

 Meanwhile, Deonarine – who is out of the country – is accused of conspiring, between May 7 and 8, 2015, to commit simple larceny at the sum of $27,757,547 also property of GPL.

Deonarine, in August last year, had reportedly offered to repay the money – over $27M of it – but GPL was to have waited until it is transferred from a US account that he has.

The ‘irregular payments’ to Deonarine and Director, Carvil Duncan, were reportedly picked up during a forensic audit ordered by the Government into the PetroCaribe Fund.

Auditors found the two payments and raised the matter. Deonarine was sent on leave with Government saying that the matter was to be handed to the police.

Duncan reportedly paid himself $948,000 while Deonarine, over $27M. Deonarine was responsible for Administration at GPL.
He reportedly wanted to receive the same level of pay as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Technical), Colin Welch, but his approaches to the Board of Directors were rebuffed.

The payments to himself, representing back pay for the period January 2013 to June 2015, were reportedly made between May and June, shortly after the new Government took office. The payments were allegedly countersigned by Duncan, the Director.