–cites alleged predilection for shady business
THE ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) yesterday called for Chairman of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Mr Nigel Hughes, to resign after noting what it describes as “damming allegations” of his involvement in another racketeering scheme.

The party said in a statement,“These allegations must not be taken lightly and are, to say the least, troubling and worrying to the public at large.

“…the fact that these allegations continue to be made is cause for concern about the integrity of the attorney-at-law and his ethical standards, not only in the political realm, but when doing business.
“…the PPP demands the resignation of this corrupt politician who constantly abuses his office and portfolio.”

COURT ACTION

QUOTE: “…the PPP wishes to condemn the double standards being exhibited by the AFC and its cronies, which constantly accuse the government of corruption”

The statement comes in the wake of a court action moved by Mayfield French, owner of popular city private school, Mae’s Schools.
French, on January 17, 2014, sued Hughes, Hand-in-Hand Mutual Life Insurance Company and the Registrar of the Supreme Court in respect of a property located at Lot 29 Subryanville, Kitty, Georgetown, upon which part of the school has been built.
In the court papers seen by this newspaper, French is contending that since February 24, 2006, she purchased said property from Hughes for the sum of $20M. She paid $8M as a deposit and took possession, on condition that the transport would be passed within eight months. Mortgage on said property was also supposed to be paid off before the passing of the transport.
In the interim, French developed the property, constructing buildings on it as part of the school’s complex.
According to French, she spent nearly $400M on the said property. The portion which was bought from Hughes houses classrooms of Mae’s Secondary School, the school’s canteen and auditorium offices, washroom and other administrative and learning spaces. However, Hughes never passed transport to her.
Before the sale to French, Hughes had mortgaged the very property to Hand-in-Hand Mutual Life Insurance Company. French claimed that it was only in last December that she first learnt that Hughes never paid off the loan for which the said property was mortgaged as collateral, and that Hand-in-Hand had obtained foreclosure proceedings against the property and Hughes since March 20, 2012.
Hughes’s indebtedness to Hand-in-Hand reportedly now stands at over $26M. The property was levied upon in December 2013 by the Marshal of the Supreme Court, and purportedly sold at an auction.
According to French, Hughes never disclosed that he did not pay off the loan; that he was sued as a result; and that a foreclosure order was obtained against the property. French claimed as a result she now faces ruin.
According to the PPP, aside from this matter, Hughes was involved in several other scandals.
One that was cited by the PPP was the allegations of conflict of interest, when it was revealed that Hughes and his wife, Cathy, were in the employ of Sithe Global, the company which developed the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project which the AFC rejected.
Another example cited was the fact that Hughes was also embroiled in the controversy surrounding his deliberate failure to disclose his relationship with the jury foreman in the Lusignan Massacre trial whilst representing one of the accused.

CRIMINAL LINKS

The PPP has charged that it is also advised of Hughes’s “criminal links and the underground” in Guyana.
The party said, “The PPP is aware of his links to prominent drug lords and criminals of this ilk and his barefaced representation of their interests in the courts when litigation is brought against them.
“The party recalls his involvement in the removal of footage from the gas station where a citizen was gunned down at Buxton.”
The ruling party has since called for citizens who have been wronged by the prominent politician to lodge a report with the Guyana Police Force for full investigations.
The party said, “The PPP urges those citizens who may have fallen prey to Hughes’s alleged racketeering acts to lodge a report with the Guyana Police Force which should investigate all allegations keenly.
“Our party will never allow any politician to trample on the fundamental rights of ordinary citizens.
“…it is shameful, but telling that the AFC which preaches about good governance and accountability is failing miserably to rein in Hughes despite the scandals in which he is finding himself.

SILENCE

The fact that the AFC has been silent on the matter remains a source of contention for the ruling party, particularly considering the AFC’s focus on transparency and accountability.
The PPP said, “The party can no longer attempt to lecture to any stakeholder in this society about rooting out corruption when it is unable to do the same within its rank and file.
“If the AFC has a shred of decency left it must distance itself from Hughes and rebuke his actions.
“If the Ramjattan and Nagamootoo driven alliance has any integrity remaining, it must stop dogdging the issue surrounding the constant controversies involving Hughes and lay their concerns bare before the public.”
The ruling party added that it is appalled by the “deafening silence” of the AFC executive on the matter at hand, as well as preceding incidents reflective of fraudulent activities, misconduct and improprieties.
The party said, “…after facing severe public pressure it was forced to address allegations of conflict of interest when it was revealed that Hughes and his wife Cathy were in the employ of Sithe Global, the company which developed the Amaila Falls Hydro Project. The AFC venomously opposed the project and questioned the way in which government entered into an arrangement with Hughes’s employers.
“It is also yet to address the controversy surrounding Hughes’s failure to disclose his relationship with the jury foreman in the Lusignan massacre trial whilst representing one of the accused.”
It also acknowledged the speculation that the cancellation of the AFC’s weekly press conference was as a result of that “party’s attempt to avoid questions on the allegations” of fraud levelled against Hughes.
The PPP said, “Such practices by AFC are not new as the party repeatedly dodges the media on matters of wrongdoings implicating its executives.
“…the PPP wishes to condemn the double standards being exhibited by the AFC and its cronies which constantly accuse the government of corruption.”
Written By Vanessa Narine