Former Jamaica Minister To Stand Trial

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Former tourism minister, Daryl Vaz, is due to go on trial early next year on corruption related charges.

Vaz, who will now appear in court on February 16, had been charged in April 2012, following allegations that he conspired with former Senior Superintendent, James Forbes, and businessman, Bruce Bicknell, to quash a bribery charge against Bicknell.

Prosecutors alleged that Vaz approached the arresting officer, Sergeant Jubert Llewellyn, and promised him “gold bars”…a code word for a promotion, if he withdrew the charge against Bicknell.

In July, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn, withdrew the bribery charge against Bicknell. She then argued that it would have been difficult to mount a successful case against him.

However, Forbes was convicted and fined J$800,000 (One Jamaica dollar =US$0.004 cents) for his role in the conspiracy.

Vaz, who is the opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament for the constituency of West Portland, appeared in court on Thursday when the trial date was set.