Chief Co-operative officer to face PSC before weekend

Feb 26, 2013 News

Following the perusal of a report sent to the Public Service Commission (PSC), Chief Cooperative Development Officer, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, is expected to face the three-man Commission before the week is out.
Jabar, who regulates the activities of co-operative societies, will have to answer to the board for the part he played in the sale of a plot of land located at Lot 42 Durbana Square, Lamaha Gardens. Jabar was sent on administrative leave to facilitate investigations led by Labour Minister Nanda Gopaul on the order of President Donald Ramotar.
According to sources at the Ministry, the investigation has so far proven that a number of cooperative procedures were violated and disregarded during the sale. Kaieteur News was told that a report has already been submitted to PSC and Jabar has also made himself available to the Committee of Inquiry.
The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has reiterated calls for the investigation report to be made public. GPSU has claimed the controversial Lamaha property, citing that the land has for years been an asset of the union.
Although GPSU had requested that information stemming from the investigation be made public, Mortimer Livan said yesterday that the union had received no word on the matter. A letter, he said, was sent to Minister Gopaul requesting that a member of GPSU be made part of the investigation, but by that time, the probe was already completed.
He said that it was heard through the grapevine that the Co-operative Officer was sent on leave and the report handed over to the President.
Livan said that the union has noticed the commendable intervention by the government and is pleased with the progress so far. He said talks with officials have also left the impression that the disputed property would be returned to the Lamaha Gardens community.
Livan added that the GPSU recently held a meeting with the Lamaha Gardens occupants where it was agreed that the property would remain for the initial purpose of recreation.
The residents have charged that they too are watching keenly the progress of the matter and they trust the government would make the findings public. The community chairman told this publication that they have opted to keep their lawyers on their toes in case of any shortcomings.
Residents had registered their annoyance with the sale of the land which they claimed was acquired illegally, “by a businessman with high connections.” The report, sources said showed that the auction and sale process took little over a month which is highly irregular. A number of rules were said to have been by-passed. The bank account in the liquidator’s name where the proceeds from the sale were transferred was said to be unauthorized, breaching of Co-op rules.
While the officer claimed that less than seven members existed in the Civil Service Association, now GPSU, the residents of Lamaha Gardens were able to produce more than 15 members holding valid land titles.
Residents were also upset that the land was sold way below market price. Some 5,500 sq feet of land in the upscale residential community is said to carry a price of about $35M, but the controversial property, estimated at six times that size, was reportedly sold for $25M to the businessman.

Latest News

Chief Co-operative officer to face PSC before weekend

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

CWI’s Shallow, Bascombe circumspect amid two-tier Test system

Guyana to play Suriname, Grenada in “Nations...

Guyana Football Federation announces opening of...

West Indies unveil powerful 17-man squad for O50s...

Seven Regional Champions to vie for direct...

Kennard Memorial Turf Club expresses sincere...

Features/Columnists

The unconscionable terms of the PSA establish a case for renegotiation

Forget Begging Rich Nations: Caribbean Countries Should Act to Save Themselves

Renegotiation – the latest Guyanese curse

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Chief Co-operative officer to face PSC before weekend

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]