Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali, on Friday, September 30, released startling information to the public, which suggested that Region 10 Chairman Mortimer Mingo may have been lying when he told the Stabroek News that he never received or paid for any land given to him by government at “Pradoville 2” housing scheme, Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara.
“The facts are as follows: Mingo was allocated a plot of land at Sparendaam in the area referred to as “Pradoville 2” in the Stabroek News.
Mingo issued a cheque, number 375166565, dated September 3, 2010, for said plot of land; receipt number 551514 was issued by the CHPA,” said Ali.
Minister Ali further informed the media corps at a brief press conference that the cheque issued by the top PNC/R councillor to pay for the land bounced because his account did not have sufficient funds at that time.
“Cheque number 375166565 was returned from the bank. It was dishonoured, or as is popularly stated, the cheque bounced.
These are the facts that can be verified,” Ali added.
Region 10 Chairman Mortimer Mingo
Ali criticised the Stabroek News for what he called their “biased, irresponsible method of journalism by not having the decency or ethics to contact the CHPA for clarifications”.
“The ministry is releasing a copy of the returned cheque and notice of return as issued by the bank for easy reference for Stabroek News and other media houses,” Ali said.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, one of the witnesses testifying on behalf of government in the Freddie Kissoon vs Jagdeo libel case, mentioned that Mingo, along with several Afro-Guyanese, was given a lot in Sparendaam, as he debunked allegations that the government was racist and only giving East Indians homes in “Pradoville 2”. The regional chairman immediately denied being allocated the house lot, stating he never received any lot there, or paid for any lot.
Minister Irfaan Ali could not say whether any further payments in cash or cheque were made to the coffers of the government after Mingo’s initial cheque had bounced.
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