THE property and the building known as the Red House that sits on it belong to the State, i.e. the people of Guyana. Over the years people have come to identify the building, with some emotional attachment to Dr. Cheddi Jagan, given that he lived there for a period during his premiership.In 2012 the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Incorporation (CJRCI) was granted a ‘99-year lease’, which has now been determined to be invalid, to occupy the building in the promotion of his work. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), of which he was a Founder and Leader, has over the years ascribed to the building an attachment of ownership to him and the party. Generally nothing is wrong with claiming such affinity, as it often happens in human nature and where formidable experiences have occurred.
Dr. Jagan served as Guyana’s first premier and was one of our leading figures in the working-class and anti-colonial struggles. As one of the Founding Fathers, his contributions to this nation, irrespective of how it is being seen, cannot be ignored. Similarly, what cannot be ignored is that with so many things in our diverse culture and polarised politics, it is often easy to escalate an issue to the point where objectivity gets lost in subjectivity.
And here it ought to be reminded that the issue surrounding ownership, lease, and use of the Red House in its present form is not about Dr. Jagan. It is unfortunate that his name is being dragged through what has become a tumultuous incident in dealing with a legitimate matter. Equally unfortunate is that the issue conveyed, wittingly or un-wittingly, a sense of property-grab and in our polarised politics fodder for racial animosity.
The Red House is public building, identified as a national monument and heritage building, and falls under the National Trust Act (1972). It is reasonable expectation that in the determination of the history, usage and ownership of the building, decisions- past, present and future- be guided by the law and human consideration, where the supremacy of the former is not circumvented. And here is where the fault line lies in the 99-year lease, which has been determined to be invalid by the Attorney General.
While the Red House was used as Dr. Jagan’s residency from 1961-1964, it also housed government departments in the 1960s to 1980s and prior to 1961 was used by the Colonial Secretaries. When Dr. Jagan was elected President in 1992 he lived in the State House, formerly the Governor’s House, until his death in 1997. The State House has since housed Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar and David Granger. The stated facts are important in understanding that public properties have had various occupants and used for various purposes over the years. As such it requires an understanding that where these properties are owned by the people, tempting though it may be to claim any, without proper legal transfer they remain the people’s properties and ought to be treated as such.
In a statement, the Ministry of the Presidency had said that after a year of engagement, which included negotiations for The Red House to provide a national service by housing information on all the Presidents of Guyana, those negotiations proved futile and in an invited comment, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr Basil Williams said that after discussions broke down, he sought to determine the legality of the lease agreement. President Granger on 29th December 2016 ordered it be revoked and the lessor vacates the premises by 31st December, “having carefully considered the advice of the Minister of Legal Affairs.” He said it would be in the public’s interest for the lease issued to the CJRCI to be revoked. The CJRCI had moved to the court seeking an order to remain, which was not granted, however the matter is scheduled for hearing come 20th February. And while the nation awaits the court’s determination at the same it should be said that the adage of “being wise as serpents and harmless as doves” could still be useful in pulling back a situation from spinning out of control.