Govt. admits 10 acres of Turkeyen land for MovieTowne already sold

Aug 31, 2011 News

– insists Brian James not a director

Government has admitted selling off over 10 acres of land at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara – which has been the source of litigation – to a Trinidad-based company that wants to build a movie and entertainment complex.
The sod-turning of MovieTowne was scheduled for last Thursday, but cancelled the same day. One day before, a judge had granted injunction ordering equipment, workers and others off the land until a determination could be made on an injunction application filed by Toolsie Persaud Limited.

Brian James

Over the weekend, Kaieteur News broke the story on the legal battle over a tract of land at Turkeyen, part of which included the piece which MovieTowne was set to be built on.
Late Monday night, the government accused Kaieteur News of publishing yet another “biased” and “irresponsible” report.
The newspaper had reported on the court documents and what it knew of the sod-turning ceremony.
“The article appears to be totally a publication of what Mr. Toolsie Persaud has stated in court papers. The article makes no attempt to ascertain the facts or to present a balanced view,” the statement from government said.
It is unclear what government meant by “ascertain the facts” since newspapers and the media are barred from commenting or seeking comments on matters before the court…at least until they have concluded.
Kaieteur News had mentioned that the invitation for the sod-turning event at Turkeyen had the printed name of businessman, Brian James, an official of Auto Supplies Limited.
Addressing this, the statement said that by referencing associates of the Government, the Kaieteur News “again seeks to distort the true facts of the matter.”
While not naming Brian James, government insisted that he is neither an officer or shareholder of Multi-Cinemas (Guyana) Inc or its sister company.

The land at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, which is the source of legal wrangling between Toolsie Persaud Limited, the government, and a Trinidad-based movie theatre company.

The statement did not mention the fact that Brian James’ Auto Supplies offices at 306 Peter Rose Streets, Queenstown, is the same registered address of Multicinemas Guyana Inc.
“Government considers KN article to be a total mis-representation. Contrary to the report in KN, the CCJ never ordered Government to transfer title to TPL.”
Kaieteur News was only reporting on what court documents said.
“Government asserts that the sale of land owned by Government, with such ownership rights being re-affirmed by the CCJ, is proper. Given that this matter is currently before the courts, Government will address the details of this matter at an appropriate time in the future.”
It is unclear again what the government meant since by issuing the statement it is already providing the details of the matter.
The government said that the article erroneously states that the land is owned by Toolsie Persaud Limited. “The land is owned by the Government as re-affirmed by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in July 2008. Despite judgment in favour of the Government, by the highest court subscribed to by Guyana, the CCJ, Mr. Toolsie Persaud continues to seek to frustrate Government’s attempt to develop the area, via their legal action in the local courts.”
The government insisted that it has pursued the development of these lands in an open and transparent manner.
“Government’s plans to unveil the creation of a Movietowne and Entertainment Complex in Guyana, at the said location at Liliendaal, is thwarted by Mr. Toolsie Persaud’s abuse of the legal system.”
The government went further and admitted that earlier this year, via National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), it sold 10.002 acres of land to Multi Cinemas (Guyana) Inc, the sister company of the Trinidadian company Multi Cinemas Inc, that owns Movietowne in Trinidad, to develop a similar project in Guyana.
“This sale and passage of title was completed in early August.”
At the centre of the issue of the controversy is a piece of prime real estate. The land is immediately west of the UG Access Road and facing the East Coast Demerara Public Road.
Toolsie Persaud Limited has taken the Attorney General, NICIL and the movie theatre company to court to halt the construction of the project.
The heavy equipment that had been working on the land was removed shortly after the injunction was granted.
Toolsie Persaud Limited is contending that it will not accept compensation since it is the rightful owner of the land, having purchased it in 1987 via an agreement of sale with government.

10 thoughts on “Govt. admits 10 acres of Turkeyen land for MovieTowne already sold”

JhonniemayDeane August 31, 2011 at 9:20 am

out of order
caribhunk August 31, 2011 at 10:49 am

I am still at lost that if there was a ruling in the CCJ, then how come the high court has produced an injunction to stop the development. It seems to me that this is a case of abuse of the legal system.

Well we do not have all the details of the case that was unveiled at the CCJ but it will be interesting to review the process by which TPL obtained the land in 1987.

This is an investment and development project. This project will provide a service to Guyana, will lift it image regionally, and more importantly create employment. Let us focus on that picture.
apretoute August 31, 2011 at 11:28 am

GUYANA IS DEFINITELY UP FOR SALE. WILL YOUR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN HAVE ANYTHING LEFT FOR THEM WHEN JAGDEO IS FINISHED?
Guest August 31, 2011 at 11:36 am

Everything is a secret with jagdeo administration the nation want to know the price that the government sell out the nation for
Byhisdeeds14 August 31, 2011 at 12:38 pm

Why can’t Mr. James speak for himself? Either admit he is a director or not. They speak of transparency in this very article but Mr. James can speak of his involvement.
ram40 August 31, 2011 at 12:47 pm

Here you go again…abuse of the system and who you in the Guyana Government. Are you telling me there aren’t enough business in Guyana that is willing, ready and able to fund and own this kind of project why all of a sudden everyone else outside of Guyana can only be the ones having access to these kind of projects??? ALL ABOUT THE $$$$$!!!!!
caribhunk August 31, 2011 at 12:58 pm

Very much looks like a case where TPL is abusing the legal system to suppress the development of the captioned parcel of land. Maybe TPL should issue a statement of how transparent the process was in 1987 when they acquired the land in the first place. One would love to think that the CCJ order should stand as final.

This project will enhance Guyana’s image regionally and at home. It will provide a service Guyanese do not have and it will create employment. It will be nice to look at it from that perspective and relax on the suspicious and subtle insinuations based on associations of the main characters that are supposedly involved in this initiative…..i am now beginning to sound like a lawyer!!!
1. rekniht August 31, 2011 at 6:50 pm
  
  …. my “opinion” !!! ure now beginnng to sound “intelligent” ! stay in the middle ,, as the romans would advise to aviod all extremes ,, “medio tutissimus ibis”…..
degaull August 31, 2011 at 3:00 pm

The reason that Jagdeo and the Guyana Government is “SELLING OUT” Guyana to “FOREIGNERS” is that the Foreigners can afford the “HEFTY BRIBE MONEY” and keep quiet about it, On the other hand the Locals may pay the bribe but they will talk and make it Public, that would not be good for the Jagdeo and the Government’s image.
katwalk_lime August 31, 2011 at 11:29 pm

Boy, I have to apply for some farmland. And when I get that I will produce a lot of stuffs. Dear land of Guyana. Seems like I have to GO TO THE ROAD TO REQUEST REHAB CENTERS, OR WHAT. THESE LANDS FOR CINEMAX CAN BECOME GOOD REHAB CENTERS, A SOCCER GROUND, CRICKET FIELD, MESS HALL, FOR THE BAD boys club, until their anger management is over.
Our brothers of Guyana who need anger management is MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY TRINI THEATER ARRANGEMENT, OR AM I WRONG? PLEASE, MR PRESIDENT, PLEASE ARRANGE FOR SOME ANGER MANAGEMENT CENTERS THROUGHOUT GUYANA.

A DAUGHTER OF THE SOIL