AS the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) continues its investigation into ‘Pradoville Two’, former Information Liaison to the Office of the President Kwame McCoy and former head of the Office of Climate Change Andrew Bishop were questioned by detectives on Thursday and subsequently released.

McCoy was questioned in his capacity as a Director on the board of state-owned National Communications Network (NCN), whose transmission tower was removed from Plantation Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, in 2011 after which several house lots were given to ministers of the former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government.

“They wanted to know my role in this entire saga of Pradoville Two, specifically as it relates to my role as a Director on the NCN Board, which would have at some point, maybe responsible for the relocation of the Sparendaam Tower,” McCoy said.

When asked by reporters what role he played in the removal of the tower, McCoy said, “I wouldn’t wish to say whether I did play a role or not.” McCoy said he was not arrested by SOCU and was not told if or when he has to return for further questioning.

Former Prime Minister (PM), Samuel Hinds, was also questioned by SOCU on the same issue on Wednesday and he maintained that the tower was removed to allow for expansion of the then Ogle International Airport and talks for its removal began since 2004.

The tower is now located at La Parfaite /Harmonie, West Bank of Demerara (WBD).

It is believed that the transmission tower was removed by the then Government to facilitate development of Pradoville Two which ministers and top ranking officials of the former administration would later benefit. Hinds during that time was prime minister and held responsibility for the aviation sector.

“Questions came up in relation to the transmission tower at Sparendaam,” the former Prime Minister said, adding that there were documentations, one of them addressed to him in 2004, where formal discussions began for the removal of the tower.

However, forensic audit reports into the operations of Government holding company – the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) – indicate that, “the removal and relocation of the NCN transmission tower were done to facilitate the housing development of the area [Sparendaam].”

The report pointed out that state funds amounting to $257M were expended on the development of the Sparendaam housing project (Pradoville). NCN was required to pay for the removal of the tower.

In 2015, though, head of NICIL under PPP, Winston Brassington, explained that the tower needed to be removed for the Government to access European Union (EU) funding for the expansion of the airport.

Meanwhile, SOCU is also expected to question Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Hack and her husband, Moeenul Hack; they paid $1,488,744 for 0.2767 of an acre at Pradoville Two.

Also slated to visit SOCU is Gary Best, who is the former Chief of staff of the Guyana Defence Force and current Advisor to President David Granger. Best purchased 0.3005 of an acre for $1,502,500.

Since Tuesday last, SOCU has hauled in a total of 16 persons in connection with the Pradoville Two investigations, including Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo; former Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon; and Lisaveta Ramotar, daughter of former President Donald Ramotar; former Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud; private sector executive Ramesh Dookhoo; former Labour Minister, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, his son, Ghansham Singh; and Marcia Nadir-Sharma, former Company Secretary to the National Industrial Commercial and Investments Limited (NICIL).

Also questioned were former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Sheik Baksh; former Housing and Tourism Minister, Irfaan Ali; former Education Minister, Priya Manickchand; former Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford and former Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee.