In what should have been a straightforward defamation case, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s $50 million lawsuit against Chinese businessman Su Zhi Rong has become a glaring example of the Vice President’s attempts to dodge serious scrutiny over corruption allegations—while the public is left waiting for justice that seems to be perpetually delayed. The case centers on a VICE News documentary aired in June 2022, in which Su accused Jagdeo of taking “cash bribes” for multimillion-dollar government contracts, alleging that he acted as a middleman for foreign businessmen like Su.
The explosive claims were made after an undercover team from VICE met Jagdeo in his own home, where the Vice President allegedly confirmed his involvement in business dealings, even while insisting, “No, no, no I’m not getting involved in business. Su is my friend. He gets all the support. Su deals with all the agreements. I don’t. The thing is that my thing is that I’m in government, so I assist from government side.”
This admission, while feigning non-involvement in business, raised more questions than it answered. The fact that Jagdeo, a man with such extensive political power, seemed to have no problem admitting providing Su support—who happens to be one of Guyana’s largest landowners with lucrative mining and oil interests—was explosive.
In a country where government-business ties have long been suspected of blurring into corruption, this moment seemed to crystallize the longstanding fears about the abuse of political power. The concern is compound with report from Transparency International that ranked Guyana the most corrupt English speaking Caribbean country during the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration.
Jagdeo’s response was swift, filing a defamation lawsuit against Su in July 2022, claiming the statements were false and aimed at tarnishing his reputation. Despite public statements in November 2023, where Jagdeo claimed to have finally located Su and served him the legal documents, the matter has yet to see the inside of a courtroom. As of January 2024, the case is still pending, and Jagdeo continues to occupy a public office where his credibility is increasingly in question.
While Jagdeo’s legal team argues that Su’s statements have caused him “considerable hurt, distress, and embarrassment,” one cannot ignore the growing public discontent with the entire affair. For months, Guyanese citizens were demanding answers—not just about the defamation case, but about the substance of Su’s accusations and Jagdeo’s role in enabling questionable business practices.
Pressure for a credible, independent inquiry into Jagdeo’s involvement in state contracts were registered since the story broke in 2022. Yet, despite calls from Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton and others for Jagdeo to step aside and for President Irfaan Ali to dismiss him, the government has remained silent. Norton’s statement in June 2022 was blunt: “Failure of the President to do so will further indicate that the PPP is a corrupt outfit that does not only facilitate corruption but is self-corrupt.” But instead of addressing these concerns head-on, the government and Jagdeo’s camp have resorted to legal action that has, so far, only delayed any meaningful public examination of the matter.
What is particularly frustrating for those demanding transparency is the fact that Jagdeo’s case against Su has been nothing but a diversion. The real issue is not whether Su made defamatory statements, but whether there is any truth to those statements. With the lawsuit dragging on and no substantive investigation into the allegations of bribery and corruption, the public is left wondering why Jagdeo continues to hold public office while these serious allegations remain unresolved.
To make matters worse, Jagdeo’s legal argument rests on the idea that Su was reckless and indifferent when making the statements, implying that the businessman had no regard for the potential fallout of his words. But the true recklessness, it seems, lies in Jagdeo’s own refusal to address the underlying allegations. The delay in court proceedings is not just an issue of legal procedure—it is a strategic attempt to buy time and avoid a much-needed inquiry into the darker corners of Guyana’s political landscape.
Su’s business dealings, his relationship with Jagdeo, and the alleged “cash bribes” are the real stories here. But instead of facing those issues head-on, Jagdeo has chosen to drag his lawsuit through the courts, keeping the focus on his reputation rather than on his actions. The longer this case remains unresolved, the more it becomes clear: the lawsuit is less about clearing his name and more about keeping the public in the dark.
With calls for Jagdeo’s resignation continuing to echo through the corridors of opposition politics and civil society, one thing is certain: the delay in this case has only deepened the distrust in his leadership and further stained the integrity of Guyana’s government. The longer this case drags on, the harder it will be for Jagdeo to claim innocence in the face of the mounting evidence of cronyism, corruption, and backdoor deals. It is time for an independent inquiry—one that goes beyond the courtroom and digs into the heart of Guyana’s murky political culture. Only then can the public be assured that the truth will finally come to light.
