Once we owe we must pay - Dr Surujbally

Once we owe we must pay – Dr Surujbally

Aug 03, 2009 News

Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr Steve Surujbally, said that while the matter is sub-judice and he would not comment, once the entity owes any rent, then it must be paid.

Chairman of GECOM, Dr Steve Surujbally

Surujbally was speaking recently on the outstanding rent owed to K.P. Thomas and Sons Development Inc.

In April this year, a nasty row erupted over the non-payment of some $5M rent.

At the time GECOM staff, including its Chief Executive Officer, Gocool Boodoo, turned up for work but were confronted by six concrete slabs across the entrance to the administrative building on High Street, Kingston.

Kenrick Thomas, of K.P Thomas and Sons Development Incorporated had said that the company is owed “a substantial amount” of money by the Commission and that he was taking the action to secure the building in keeping with the terms of the licensing agreement for the rental of the premises.

However, after a meeting he held with Boodoo and other officials of the Commission, Thomas said certain undertakings were made by the Commission.

Upon this agreement, Thomas was about to remove the concrete encumbrance when Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, arrived on scene and ordered workers employed by his Ministry to remove the concrete slabs.

Benn said that the building was a “government occupied facility” and he was “removing the obstruction to its use”.

The Minister said he was not concerned about the matter of outstanding rental by the Commission.

Initially, the Police were called in, but the owners produced a copy of the agreement and showed them that the building was private property which they had rented. As such, the Police backed off.

The Commission began renting the premises when the Secretariat building housing the National Registration Centre and other offices was destroyed by fire in September 2006.

Kaieteur News understands that the building was rented to the Commission as a fully-operational commercial building and included air-conditioning, generator, and water network.

The terms of the license stipulated that the building would be rented on a one-year renewable contract.

A source inside the company pointed out that in the past, GECOM had been late with rent but these matters were ironed out.

However, this time around GECOM is claiming that the payment is held up at the Ministry of Finance. Company officials did try to contact the Ministry but were told that the matter has to be dealt with by the Commission.

Thomas said that he is waiting to see if the outstanding dues will be settled before his company makes any other decision.

Kenrick Thomas, 35, and Ken Thomas, 31, both of 28-30 Agricola Public Road, East Bank Demerara, were subsequently charged for obstruction.