Former ‘Habiquad’ employee accuses housing company of deception

Nov 13, 2011 News

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By Rabindra Rooplall
After Global Building Systems ‘Habiquad’ launched its first pre-fabricated house October last in La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, one of the company’s representatives is accusing the entity of fraudulent activities.
Marketing Director of Habiquad, Allison Butters-Grant, resigned on Wednesday after she accused the housing company’s founder of being a ‘con artist.’
She sent a formally resignation to Habiquad’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, James Saleh, Habiquad Global at 2107 North Decatur Rd., #321 Decatur, GA, USA 30033.
Allegation of Habiquad’s Founder being a ‘con artist’ surfaced after Marketing Director of Habiquad, Allison Butters-Grant, found many discrepancies in various housing transactions in which the company is involved.

“First and foremost, I am a Guyanese at heart then a business woman, and will not sit back and watch any person come into Guyana and commit any wrongdoings, especially if the introduction came from me.” Ms Butters-Grant said emphatically.
She explained that after tendering her resignation to the company, under tremendous stress to deliver and complete the house that was built in La Parfait Haromonie it was noticeable that the company was not in a financial position to deliver on many of the contracts.
Ms Butters-Grant said that the Habiquad’s Founder and CEO, James Saleh had secured US$50,000 from “Carma Orphanage Buildings” to pursue construction in Haiti.
Purchase price for the total project for the Carma Orphanage buildings is US$110,000. This also was a stalled project.
“To date he has not contacted these people regarding this issue and has since been ordered off the job site.”
“Mr. Saleh, for more than one obvious reason, continues to secure projects in Guyana when he knows that (Habiquad) is not financially equipped to do.”
Ms Butters-Grant said she has supporting documents and more than 800 e-mails which would reveal that the product is great but Habiquad Guyana is not financially equipped for Guyana’s vast market.
She stated, “Unfortunately I am leaving because of irreconcilable differences since I cannot function with any organization that engages in any unscrupulous activities by one or more of its Officers….I will inform all the stakeholders that I have introduced to Habiquad, of my resignation and disassociation from Habiquad-Guyana.  Please remove me from any legal documentation pertaining to Habiquad-Guyana.”
She said that Managing Director of Habiquad, Vernon Wilson, is presently trying to secure a buyer for a house, but after that house is sold, Habiquad Guyana has no money to invest in other homes meaning that if persons sign new contracts in Guyana they may be waiting in vain as others had been waiting, if they get anything at all like the people in Haiti.
When the company first came to the country Habiquad’s Founder , James Saleh, advertised his company as being capable of a US$1.5M investment, Butters-Grant said that he later confessed to her that it was a startup company and was not even capable of advertising on radio or even the local media since there was no budget set aside for this.
“Mr. Saleh came highly recommended but unfortunately he turned out to be a confidence trickster in his own right and prefers to do business outside of the US for obvious reasons — less regulations.
“Since he is basically screwed in Haiti he thinks Guyana is open season.  I ensured that Mr. Saleh delivered those houses in Guyana since I had threatened him to go to the press — it was not a good ordeal but I have learnt a lot.”
She also noted that the Minister of Housing planned on doing a partnership with Habiquad Guyana but unfortunately Mr Saleh could not provide proof of finances to develop the land that would have been allotted to housing company.
“To this date he still cannot provide proof of funding but thinks that the Minister should give him the land even though I explained to him that is the process.”
When Saleh was contacted he said that it is unfortunate that the Ms. Butters-Grant chose to resign her position with Habiquad-Guyana and that the company regretfully accepted her resignation.
“However, her allegations of fraud and our ability to complete projects that we undertake are without merit.  Additionally, it is our belief that she appeared to be disappointed with the pace of the business development process and that she does not fully understand or realize the investment of money, time and effort that the management team has made thus far.
“We wish her good luck on future endeavours and the management team, led by Managing Director Mr.Vernon Wilson,  remains committed to establishing a local manufacturing facility, creating local jobs, and delivering a quality product for the local Guyanese market.”

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