–Attorney General vows swift legal action against illicit sale of state lands by Local Authorities

ATTORNEY GENERAL and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, has condemned the illicit sale and rental of state lands by local authorities, emphasising that those responsible will face the full weight of the law.
“The issue of local authorities selling state lands has once again arisen,” Nandlall remarked in a recent airing of his Issue in the news programme. “We have made it clear already that any local authority that sells state lands — those who are the authors of that sale — in that local authority will have to face the full force of the law.”

His comments come after reports surfaced that the chairperson of the Buxton/Foulis Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) has been renting or selling state-owned lands. Local residents raised alarm, prompting the Guyana Police Force to launch an investigation.
Nandlall was firm in his criticism, questioning the authority of local NDC officials to engage in such transactions. “These are elected officials for an NDC. How can they be empowered to dispose of state lands?” he asked, suggesting that such acts of mismanagement undermine the integrity of public office.
A report has already been filed with the police and the Attorney General expressed hope for swift action. “I am hoping that the Guyana Police Force will move swiftly and we can use this to set an example,” Nandlall added. “I have seen the documents signed by the chairman and by the persons who are buying or leasing these lands.”

For approximately two years, the government has been receiving reports of NDCs, and in some cases municipalities illegally renting and selling reserved government lands within their jurisdictions, without permission from the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. According to the Local Government Act, these actions are illegal and punishable by law.

Despite the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development issuing an initial statement reminding these local organs of the statutory provisions which prohibit these actions, the issue remains prevalent. In response, the government intends to report the matters to the police.
Moreover, all parties involved, the sellers and buyers, are liable for prosecution for these fraudulent activities.