Attorney-General declares… PPP ‘Red House deal’ criminal
Attorney-General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams
Attorney-General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams

THE ‘Red House’ deal, which was done under the previous administration, can be considered criminal, as State land was transferred under the guise of a lease which was grossly undervalued, according to Attorney-General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams.“On a first real look at the deal, it shows we had a sale of state lands under the guise of a lease which was grossly undervalued… as such the state suffered a loss since its prime property and the market value in that area would be very high. So under the guise of a lease for 99 years is virtually a transport.”
Noting that all misfeasance of public office is equally treated as a criminal charge, the Attorney General explained that misfeasance is the wilful, inappropriate action or intentional incorrect action or advice.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon had indicated government’s intention for the ‘Red House’ to be soon returned to the people of Guyana. In August of this year Harmon had shockingly revealed to the nation via the National Assembly that the former PPP/C Administration had privatised ‘Red House’, otherwise known as the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre.
He said that the matter has since been referred to Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams with a clear direction that he is to examine all the ways in which the lease can be terminated, resulting in the ‘Red House’ being returned to the people of Guyana. Harmon added that the building must be taken out of the hands of a company to which government feels it was unreasonably transferred.
The Minister of State further revealed that the Attorney General has sent for all the documentation and is examining options available to government. Harmon insists that the clear direction from President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Brigadier David Granger is that there must be ways of bringing that “unreasonable situation” to an end even if it means taking legal action.
In 2012 a company was established named ‘Cheddi Jagan Research Inc.’ and the building was leased by the PPP to that company. The lease agreement has a duration of 99 years at a cost of only $1,000 monthly. This will add up to $12,000 per year and $1,188,000 over the 99-year period. However this will not be even a quarter of what was spent to build, renovate and maintain the building over the years. Apart from this, Harmon said that the entity’s staff remained on the job and were still being paid by the state.

 

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