The selloff/ giveaway of assets of the sugar sector by National Industrial & Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) has exposed the fact that the entity has become a “criminal enterprise” under the APNU+AFC Coalition, declared Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.
His comments came during his Thursday (November 7, 2019) news conference, where he said, “NICIL is a criminal enterprise and they will face consequences.” Jagdeo pointed out that many questions – what assets were sold, what were the valuations, how much the assets were sold for and what process was used – all remain unanswered.
The Opposition Leader pointed to two deals that have been exposed this week alone – the leaving of 700 acres of the shuttered Wales Sugar Estate to a six-week old company, Amazonia Expert Services Limited (AESL) to plan coconut trees; and the move to lease lands on the East Coast.
Jagdeo said, “These are all corrupt acts…the companies know they are dealing with caretaker government.” The Opposition Leader had warned months ago that any deal signed by a the Coalition, which has “diminished authority” and should not be engaging in many of the acts that is current is, will not be recognized by a new People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government.