Pradoville 2 land acquisition investigation is “still alive one ” – Minister Harmon

GINA, GUYANA, Friday, October 21, 2016

The investigation by Government into the establishment of the Pradoville 2 a gated community is still on-going according to Minister of State Joseph Harmon. The Minister gave this response to a query at a Post Cabinet briefing today, about the investigation into the alleged illegal acquisition of State Lands for private use by the previous PPP/C Administration.

Harmon added that the investigation “is still a live one” and advice has been sought in some of the cases, being pursued by the Guyana Police Force, from the Director of Public Prosecutions as to the way forward.

The Minister of State explained that since establishment of the State Asset Recovery Unit which was initially tasked with responsibility for that investigation, several things have happened since then. “We have a State Assets Recovery Bill which will be laid in Parliament and other issues surrounding SARU, which according to the Bill should become an authority. Those matters have subsumed and taken somewhat of a priority currently, Minister Harmon opined.

These questions were raised after it was discovered that several acres of prime real estate land, in Sparendam were acquired at prices far lower that prevailing market prices. These lands were obtained by National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and sold to certain members and associates of the previous government.

 

By: Paul McAdam