PPP, Govt squabble over cancellation of Ed Ahmad land lease

Conflicting reports are emanating from Government Ministers regarding the status of the disputed land which was leased to Edul Ahmad in 2008.

Governance Minister Raphael Trotman disclosed during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday, that the lease agreement was terminated since the beginning of this month and that the land was automatically returned and is under the responsibility of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).

These revelations significantly contradict statements from State Minister Joseph Harmon who, just a week ago, disclosed that Government will be taking steps to revoke the lease agreement between Ahmad and the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, under former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s stewardship; and also to repossess the land.

Having criticised the previous Administration of fast-tracking the lease agreement in 2008, the new Government appears to be guilty of similar practices – having terminated the agreement and allowing the GPSU to regain responsibility in a matter of only seven days.

Adding to the controversy are statements from the PPP/C, whose members are claiming that the lease agreement was terminated and the land relinquished to the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission since 2009. In a nutshell, the PPP/C is contending that the State Minister, in his haste to “prove corruption” against the previous Administration, blatantly misled the public about the land deal and deliberately lied when he claimed that the land was only now being repossessed.

In fact, during a recent press conference hosted by the Party, Chief Whip Gail Teixeira posited that Harmon “jumped the gun and got egg on his face.”

According to her, the Minister “jumped the gun because he was so anxious to show the wicked Jagdeo and the wicked, corrupt PPP that he jumped so fast and so high that he got egg on his face. Now he doesn’t know how to get the egg off his face and he’s saying to Jagdeo, you bring the evidence.”

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall explained that the reason the project did not materialise was because there was a “misdescription” of the property.

“The investors wanted an area of land not less than five acres… the investor relinquished his interest with the project and handed back the lease and did what was necessary to give back the land to the State. He did not proceed with the project,” Nandlall disclosed, noting that the land was subsequently relinquished to the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC).

Reports carried in the other daily newspapers also reported that the land was leased for a short period in 2008 and was relinquished to the GLCS one year later.

Meanwhile, in 2008, Government and the GPSU were in battle for ownership of the land, located on Thomas and Vlissengen Roads. The matter eventually landed in court.

Both the GPSU and the Government claimed to have rightful documentation to prove their respective ownership of the property. Government said it owns the land under Transport #1510 of 1974. The Administration explained that the land was leased for a brief period in 2008 (to Ed Ahmad) and was subsequently relinquished to the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) in 2009.

On the other hand, the GPSU contends that the Union has occupied the land for decades and had presented documents to show that it has been paying rates and taxes dating as far back as the 1970’s.