Minister chides M&CC over Bel Air Park playfield takeover

Jan 27, 2018 News

Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, has condemned the attempts by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council to convert

The cleared playfield to be fenced by the council

the Bel Air Park playfield into a space for residential use.
The matter came to the fore following a High Court ruling earlier this month. The ruling essentially blocked the efforts of the M&CC to lease the land to a private developer for housing purposes.
However, even after the court ruling, officers of the Council moved to clear and fence the open playfield.
This resulted in a ‘cease and desist’ letter being sent by lawyer Devindra Kissoon, who had initially filed the Court action.
In the letter, the lawyer called in no uncertain terms for contempt proceedings, with the possibility imprisonment of the Mayor, Town Clerk and Councillors, if the order is contravened.
Kissoon, by letter dated January 24, 2017, was appointed the trusted representative of the community by more than 80 prominent residents of Bel Air Park, including Ashton Chase S.C., Rafik Khan S.C., Andrew Pollard S.C., Justin Nedd, Anand Beharry and Dane Gobin among many others.
Through Kissoon, they all requested that all destroyed trees be replanted and that confirmation be received that no fence would be erected.
As part of his efforts to safeguard the Bel Air Park playfield, the lawyer wrote to President David Granger, Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan outlining the position of Bel Air Park residents on the matter.
In a strongly worded missive dated January 22, 2018 Minister Bulkan chided the Council over the move to take over the Bel Air Park playfield.
The correspondence to the Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase-Green, served to inform the Council that the undertaking by the Council to convert green spaces in residential areas into housing or other commercial ventures does not find favour with central government.
“Instead, it is the desire and expectation of the administration that local democratic organs undertake to maintain and improve such areas for the benefit of all residents and citizens within the confines of their intended purpose.”
The letter further outlined that before a matter of such a sensitive nature could be placed on the agenda of the Council, the constituency representative should informed and support the relevant undertaking.
The Minister further reminded the Council that it is an elected body that was established to represent the interest of the people.
“You are doubtlessly aware that Article 9 of the Constitution of Guyana states that sovereignty belongs to the people who exercise it through their representatives and the democratic organs established by or under this constitution.”
Minister Bulkan noted that members of Cabinet are also in favour of the suspension of the plans of the Georgetown M&CC.
“I further apprise you that I am in favour of the exercise of suspension on the conversion or use of green spaces for any purpose apart from that for which such space is intended.
Based on discussion at cabinet, my colleagues share that view. I advise you of this fact for your consideration for implementation of such within the municipality.
Justice Gino Persaud, had handed down a ruling which essentially blocked Mayor and City Council’s, (M&CC’s) intention to sell or lease the reserved community lands to a private developer.
The decision which was based on an application was filed last year by Kissoon, who is also a resident of Bel Air Park.
Kissoon, a founding partner of London House Chambers (Law Firm), sued the M&CC and Central Housing and Planning seeking to prohibit the development of a community reserve property in Bel Air Park for the purpose of housing.
Kaieteur News understands that the Council was in negotiations with local housing developer, Terrence Taljit, to transfer to him prime community lands despite a restriction on the transport of the property for use as community purposes only.
The plot of land is earmarked as the Bel Air Park playground. However, court documents revealed that the property historically existed as an open space, but the Council said that it is desirous of using the recreational land for building a “town house for the Mayor, town clerk, city engineer and medical officer of health.”

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