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Pressure mounts for full probe into corrupt land deals
Kaieteur News-The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) has expressed concerns at the recent spate of revelations which point to potential if not actual corruption in the sale of public lands.
In a statement released on Monday, the WPA called for a full and independent investigation in the allegations. The issue which came to light over the past two weeks has pointed to sale of prime lands in Guyana at below market value under questionable transactions. Land deals made by New York based Dr. Phillip Baldeo and Edul Ahmad have since raised red flags. Baldeo owns several acres of prime land at Providence along the East Bank Demerara as well as on the Heroes Highway. In the case of Ahmad, who was convicted for fraud, money laundering and real estate crimes in the US, he also acquired several pieces of prime property at Diamond, EBD, Ogle East Coast Demerara.
WPA member Tacuma Ogunseye
The revelations have led to the resignation of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) Sherwin Greaves after it came to light that he allegedly bought two luxurious properties in the United States from the same individuals embroiled in the land scandal. “We therefore call for such an investigation as an urgent necessity. No democratic government in the face of such damming allegations should deny its citizens the satisfaction of knowing the full truth. That top government officials have already pronounced on the innocence of those at the center of the allegations only compounds the problem,” the WPA said in its release.
The party noted that the issue of government facilitating the transfer of State assets to favoured individuals and groups, often devoid of transparency and below market value, is not new one. As such, the WPA said it had strenuously lobbied for the institution of the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) as both a deterrent to thievery of State assets and a mechanism for recovering such stolen assets. The agency, which came into being during the previous government, was promptly disbanded by this government on its return to office. “WPA cites the correlation of this action and the rapid increase of allegations of giveaway of State assets to friends of the government.”
The party noted too that constitution empowers the government to be managers of the day-to-day activity of the State in accordance with the laws of the land, but not to circumvent the laws or set the government up as a substitute for the law. “As we await a full probe of the latest allegations, WPA invokes Professor Clive Thomas’ warning of the criminalization of the State under the previous PPP government. We see a resurgence of that Criminalized State that points to more deadly consequences for Guyana in the era of Oil and Gas. Consequently, we call for the reinstatement of SARA.
Only last week, Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Nigel Hughes made it clear that his attempt to acquire lease lands along the Essequibo River, Region Two was “above board”. Notwithstanding, he said he welcomes any investigation into the acquisition. “…I welcome, I absolutely welcome and encourage a full investigation into my acquisition of lands on the left bank of the Essequibo River…” Hughes said.
The prominent attorney also told reporters at his party’s weekly press conference that he also welcomes an investigation into any role he played in helping a company acquire lands at Plantation Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD). He made it clear that he is not a shareholder of the company nor a direct beneficiary of the lands. On Thursday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, while defending his government’s sale of over 35 acres of prime land to convicted fraudster Edul ‘Ed’ Ahmad, at his party’s press-conference highlighted a bid by Hughes to acquire 75 acres of undeveloped State lands. He also said that Hughes was part of a company that acquired lands at Plantation Ogle, ECD.
(Pressure mounts for full probe into corrupt land deals)
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