…refuses to return over $1.5M in rent, security deposit

A COURT matter filed by businessman Peter Ramsaroop against the Parliament of Guyana for money allegedly owed to him by Parliament was weeks ago withdrawn by Ramsaroop.
Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, told the Guyana Chronicle on Tuesday that he was advised by Deputy Clerk Hermina Gilheous, who represented him in the matter, that the case was withdrawn by the businessman.

“I am told by the Deputy Clerk this afternoon that the case was withdrawn,” said Isaacs, who noted that Ramsaroop had filed proceedings against Parliament after refusing to return just over $1.5M representing two months’ rent and one month security deposit lodged for his property located at 27 Jacaranda Avenue, Bel Air Park.

The property was rented by Parliament for Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, from February 2016 for a period of one year due to the unavailability of government flats. However, it was due to several maintenance issues that the tenancy was terminated by Parliament.
The Guyana Chronicle understands that there were several defects in the property which Ramsaroop had initially committed to remedying, but then back-pedalled. Approximately eight months after moving in, Broomes had indicated to the Clerk of the National Assembly that the situation was unbearable.

“It was the lack of maintenance that caused her to move…Parliament did not owe Mr Ramsaroop anything. We paid him three months’ rent (US$2500 monthly), but he doesn’t want to return the money,” Isaacs told the Guyana Chronicle. Isaacs dispelled statements published in the Guyana Times newspaper on Tuesday June 20, 2017, under the heading, “Former landlord takes Minister Broomes to court for rent…Gov’t owes $1, 560,000” which suggest that the government owes Ramsaroop.

According to the Guyana Times article, Ramsaroop claimed that he had entered into an Agreement of Tenancy with Parliament for his Bel Air Park property to be rented to Minister Broomes from February 1, 2016 to February 1, 2017 at a cost of US$2,500 monthly.
Ramsaroop contended that a deposit of US$7500 representing two months’ rent and one month’s security deposit were made, but noted that, “several months were left outstanding,” noting that Parliament failed to pay rent for the months of November and December 2016 and January 2017 totalling US$7500. However,the Guyana Chronicle understands that in September 2016, Parliament gave Ramsaroop one month’s notice of intention to vacate. Additionally, in October, by virtue of notice to Ramsaroop, Minister Broomes vacated Ramsaroop’s property, which was reportedly checked and the keys were handed over to the businessman.

Ramsaroop had also contended that Parliament is in breach of the tenancy agreement and failed, refused and or neglected to pay him the US$7500 for the three months. He also alleged that Broomes had damaged his property and as such, he was not required to return the deposit to Parliament but instead will use that money to fix all damage to his property.
It remains unclear whether Ramsaroop will return the two months’ rent and one month security deposit to Parliament.