More Ex-Ministers heading to court - more than 25 cases of lands, properties sold below market prices

More Ex-Ministers heading to court – more than 25 cases of lands, properties sold below market prices

Apr 15, 2018 News

The Pradoville Two property at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara.

Days after two powerful officials of the previous administration were slapped with fraud-related charges regarding the sale of state lands on East Coast Demerara, it is being confirmed that a few more will be appearing before city courts.
Last week, officials of the police’s Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) filed charges in a city’s Magistrate Court against former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, and ex-chief of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington.
The charges relate to the sale of lands to MovieTowne, Scady Business Corporation and National Hardware.
Prosecutors are arguing that the lands were deliberately sold way below the market value, causing a loss to the people of Guyana.
Over the weekend, officials said that, there are about 25 similar cases where lands and properties were disposed of below market prices.
The names of five other ex-ministers were said to be among those to be charged.
While Kaieteur News was unable to make contact with SOCU’s head, Sydney James, for confirmation, sources said that the cases will include properties sold to a number of prominent businessmen, including at least two in the Kingston area.
With regards to the impending charges for the ex-ministers, it is likely that these are linked to Pradoville Two estate at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara.
The seaside plot of land was transferred to NICIL under the last Bharrat Jagdeo administration and it was divided up and sold to then ministers and other top officials.
The price paid was way below what normal citizens were paying.
At least two of those developed properties- belonging to former ministers Priya Manickchand and Robert Persaud, were sold for large sums.
Jagdeo himself took a large piece near to the seawall, building himself a mansion with a large pool.
To facilitate the creation of the exclusive community dubbed Pradoville Two for the SUVs that traverse, the Jagdeo administration oversaw the removal of a transmission tower from the area, to the West Demerara, at a cost of more than $100M.
SOCU investigators are working on the premise that the lands were not offered to other Guyanese.
Last year, several of the former ministers and others were hauled in for questioning by SOCU, including Jagdeo himself and the ex-Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon.
The Coalition Government had accused consecutive PPP/C administrations of corruption and widespread abuse and confiscation of state assets with sale under questionable terms to friends and family.
Already, former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, and Dr. Jennifer Westford, are before the court for fraud related matters.