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Investigate the land deals

Jul 22, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
Please permit me to address two issues raised by your publication. The first refers to Peeping Tom’s column about a State Asset Recovery Unit having been set up to recover stolen assets by the previous administration. This Unit should investigate the land deals/grants by the PPP administration.
I will point out two questionable transactions and open the door for others to respond with similar shenanigans in other communities. The previous Leonora Senior Staff compound consisting of a sizable plot of prime real estate was zoned as an industrial site. This land was ostensibly “sold” to the infamous Ed Ahmad and has since been converted to a housing project. All work at this site should be put on hold and quickly investigated to ascertain compliance with the laws of Guyana.
The former Leonora Estate guest house was similarly “sold” to Irfaan Ali. I know that when this property was put up for bid the highest bidder was a gentleman from Leonora who resides in England. The bidding was quashed and Mr Ali ended up with this property.
My second comment concerns the tourism industry.  I have traveled throughout the world and I can tell you that Guyana is not ready for the European and North American tourists. Rather, the government should court the multitude of the diaspora from America and Canada. I know of many more who would make the trip to your shores if the price of the plane ticket was lowered. Government should encourage other airlines to ply this route rather than the monopolistic and parasitic Caribbean Airlines.
Another option is to lower the taxes imposed on airline tickets to drive down this cost. I know many would think that the taxes are needed to maintain the viability of the airport. Increasing the volume of tourists would more than compensate for this lost revenue in the increased economic activities that are generated.
To gauge the response, the Government can offer this as an incentive on a one month trial basis. I know that they will be pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
Ali Hussain

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