Guyana’s High Court ruling in Red House case likely for August

As the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (CJRC) challenge to the President’s revocation of its lease continued at the High Court, the Attorney representing both the CJRC and Attorney General Basil Williams made their submissions to acting Chief Justice Roxane George.
As such, the parties are set to return on August 27, 2018 either for clarification or ruling. At the last court appearance, the acting Chief Justice had appealed for the timelines to be honoured, saying that predetermined timelines were totally derailed when Attorney Anil Nandlall’s submissions were late.
In late December 2016, President David Granger gave the occupant of Red House 48 hours to vacate the premises, a move which Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo described as “unconscionable and vindictive”. At that point, the move was not in isolation as a back-and-forth exchange erupted between the coalition Government and the occupant.
The Research Centre was established in 1999 to promote research into and publish materials on the life, work and ideas of late President Dr Cheddi Jagan. The prime land on which Red House sits was leased to the CJRC Inc for 99 years for G$12,000 per year. Former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Donald Ramotar had disclosed that he approved the lease in his capacity as President of Guyana. He was President from 2011 to 2015.
The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Administration was initially averse to the small fee being charged and had started engaging the directors of the Research Centre on the possibility of transforming the Red House into a hub for all former Presidents.
The Management Committee, which included former President Ramotar, had strongly objected to this move, and told the Government to find independent sites for the establishment of similar research centres for the other Guyanese leaders.
Ramotar had posited that former Presidents Desmond Hoyte and Forbes Burnham never shared the same ideology and philosophy of Dr Jagan and contended, therefore, it would be a “total dishonour” for Red House to be converted into a depository for all past Presidents. It was subsequent to these comments that AG Williams opined that the lease was invalid, after which President Granger moved to revoke the said lease.