Luncheon denies major ethnic imbalance in ‘Pradoville 2’ land holdings
By Stabroek staff | 70 Comments
Thursday, September 29, 2011

Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon yesterday rejected that there is a major ethnic imbalance among land owners at the new ‘Pradoville 2’ housing development at Sparendaam.

This is according to testimony given by Luncheon under cross-examination by attorney Christopher Ram in the $10 million libel case brought by President Bharrat Jagdeo against Kaieteur News and columnist Freddie Kissoon.

When it was put to him by the Ram that the individuals allotted land in the area were predominantly Indian Guyanese, Jagdeo’s chief witness rejected the suggestion entirely. Luncheon then continued to say that to the best of his knowledge the decision to allocate land was made by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA). He added that although he was not aware of every single allocation, he was aware that a percentage of the persons granted land was African Guyanese. He then went on to list the names of the African Guyanese he could remember, which included himself, former chairman of the Caribbean Development Bank Dr Compton Bourne; Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force Commodore Gary Best; Region Ten Chairman Mortimer Mingo; and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.

Ram also asked Luncheon about the Indian Guyanese allotted land there and he said he was certain that they included President Jagdeo and ministers Robert Persaud and Priya Manickchand. Not satisfied with this answer, Ram suggested to Luncheon that Housing Minister Irfaan Ali, Finance Minister Ashni Singh, Dr Ghansham Singh and Lisavita Ramotar were also allotted land at “Pradoville 2.” Luncheon admitted that Ghansham Singh was an allottee, but said he had no recollection of the others.

Luncheon was also questioned by Ram on his recollection of the four non-elected members appointed by the PPP during the eight and ninth Parliaments. To the former, Luncheon said he doubts his recollection of them, while he listed three from the latter period, all of whom were Indian Guyanese.

Meanwhile, defence attorney Khemraj Ramjattan and Jagdeo’s lead attorney Anil Nandlall presented their prepared arguments on whether or not the 2008 report prepared by UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues Gay McDougall should be tendered as evidence, after which Justice Brassington Reynolds said that it would be unsafe to tender the report as evidence in the light of the fact that McDougall was not present.

He also added that it would be unfair to the witness to have it tendered. He did, however, defer making a definite decision until today, pending a review of arguments by the lawyer.

In her report, McDougall had noted that a serious concern was the stigmatisation of young African Guyanese males and entire communities, which reported feelings of being excluded, discriminated against and victimised. On the part of African Guyanese, McDougall said, there is a widely held belief that they are discriminated against by an Indian-dominated and supported government that puts Indian interests to the fore, particularly in resource allocation, government contracts and employment.

At the same time, she said Indian Guyanese believe that an Afro-centric political opposition, if in power, would settle political scores and work solely in the interests of African Guyanese.

The government found the report to be inaccurate as it was one that predominantly dealt with African Guyanese.
Ramjattan, in his presentation, argued that the McDougall report was commissioned by the government.

He also argued that the report was pleaded in the defendant’s defence in paragraph three of the statement, “so it’s not as if the plaintiff was caught unaware as to what was being used.” The attorney then noted that the evidence from Luncheon revealed that McDougal came to Guyana, spent several days here and conducted her work and argued as a result that she “had some personal knowledge of the matters.”

In turn, Nandlall referred to the report as hearsay, arguing that it is an “out of court statement, made out of court, by someone who is out of court,” and therefore must be left alone.
The case continues today.

Look like Mingo get ketch wid he hand in di cookie jar..........hahahahaha

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Originally posted by SJ4321:
Look like Mingo get ketch wid he hand in di cookie jar..........hahahahaha

As I have been saying for sometime the folks in Berbice feel the PPP has become the PNC.

What you say young taps?

It is amazing how many can actualize a parasitic caste gleefully. One has to wonder at the remarkable expression of the Stockholm syndrome that allows the pradoville caste in the PPP to condition their minions to act against their interests and submit to docile servitude. While most of these worker bees live in constant want these creatures they serve openly feed off their work in manner of the perfect parasite to live like the roman patrician in the era of Nero.

These are the new Brahmins. They simply have to propagate the myth that informs these new dalits on how and where to supply service to this new deserving caste! Meanwhile these minions are in a state of want simply because they reduce themselves willingly to the status of nonthinking drones serving their masters in the PPP. That is because they never ask why and for whom they work; the parasites or themselves.

Mortimer Mingo says Luncheon told him he was to get house lot By Stabroek editor.
Thursday, September 29, 2011.

Chairman of Region 10 Mortimer Mingo today said that Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon had contacted him in August 2010 saying that he (Mingo) had been identified to receive a house lot at Pradoville 2 and that was the last he heard on the matter until testimony in a libel matter yesterday.

Responding to the controversy created by Luncheon testifying in the High Court yesterday that Yearwood was one of the Afro-Guyanese to be awarded lots at the Pradoville 2 Scheme, Mingo said that Luncheon advised him that the lots were located at Sparendaam on the East Coast Demerara where the NCN radio antennas were sited. He said he was further told in a telephone call by Luncheon that the lands were being assigned to senior government functionaries and regional chairmen. Mingo said that Luncheon then advised him that he would be getting one of the lots and would be contacted later as to how the allocation was to be made.

Said Mingo: “I immediately contacted my attorney-at-law on the offer that was made to me by the Head (of the) Presidential Secretariat and he advised that I acknowledge the offer, and wait and see what and how they would proceed with the offer”.

Mingo said that since then he has not heard anything from the HPS or anyone concerning the said plot of land.

“I have not signed any agreement or condition of sale or paid any money for any land at Sparendaam, or have I received any lease, title or transport for that land from the Government of Guyana. In fact I have never seen the land”, Mingo added.

If the statement about Luncheon’s offer is confirmed it suggests that the HPS was integrally involved in contacting those who were to have lots at this controversial scheme. The government has not provided information on a range of questions asked in relation to this scheme. (See other stories on this web page.)

The approach to Mingo, a senior PNC official, also raises the question as to why Mingo did not immediately reject the offer considering that the PNCR has been steadfastly critical of schemes like Pradoville 2 which were not transparently handled.

It also raised the questions of why the chairman of Region 10 who resides in Linden should be offered a lot in Georgetown and whether all regional chairmen were approached. The PNCR Chairman of Region Four Clement Corlette had blasted the Central Housing and Planning Authority over the lack of answers about the scheme and had written to it for answers to no avail.

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Originally posted by Tola:
PNCR denies Mingo awarded Pradoville 2 lot
By Stabroek editor | 14 Comments . Thursday, September 29, 2011 Updated: 12:24 pm

PNCR General Secretary Oscar Clarke this morning denied a statement made by Dr. Roger Luncheon yesterday that Region Ten Chairman, Mortimer Mingo was allocated land at the new “Pradoville 2” housing development at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara.

During a brief telephone interview Clarke said that “I have spoken with Mingo and I am satisfied that Dr. Luncheon is at least a stranger to the truth”.

Asked if the party was denying that bit of evidence given by the Cabinet Secretary during the continuation of the President’s $10M libel suit against Kaieteur News and its Columnist Freddie Kissoon, he responded in the affirmative. (See other story on this web page.)

Clarke informed this newspaper that he was in the process of preparing a press statement in relation to the matter.

When contacted Mingo referred all questions to Clarke.

Sources close to Mingo told Stabroek News today that he was offered a house lot at Pradoville 2 but never accepted a lot there and never paid anything for it. It is unclear who offered the lot. Mingo, head of the PNCR in Region 10, travelled to Georgetown this morning to clear the matter up.

It would be politically embarrassing for the PNCR for any of its senior members to occupy a lot at Pradoville 2 as the party has strongly criticized the controversial scheme.

To date the government has not explained how the land was allocated for housing, how its allottees were chosen, the pricing of the lots and concerns about preferential services to the scheme.

LIES, more PPP Lies.

PPP all over the place with one scandal after the other.

quote:

Originally posted by Dharry:

quote:

Originally posted by Tola:
PNCR denies Mingo awarded Pradoville 2 lot
By Stabroek editor | 14 Comments . Thursday, September 29, 2011 Updated: 12:24 pm

PNCR General Secretary Oscar Clarke this morning denied a statement made by Dr. Roger Luncheon yesterday that Region Ten Chairman, Mortimer Mingo was allocated land at the new “Pradoville 2” housing development at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara.

During a brief telephone interview Clarke said that “I have spoken with Mingo and I am satisfied that Dr. Luncheon is at least a stranger to the truth”.

Asked if the party was denying that bit of evidence given by the Cabinet Secretary during the continuation of the President’s $10M libel suit against Kaieteur News and its Columnist Freddie Kissoon, he responded in the affirmative. (See other story on this web page.)

Clarke informed this newspaper that he was in the process of preparing a press statement in relation to the matter.

When contacted Mingo referred all questions to Clarke.

Sources close to Mingo told Stabroek News today that he was offered a house lot at Pradoville 2 but never accepted a lot there and never paid anything for it. It is unclear who offered the lot. Mingo, head of the PNCR in Region 10, travelled to Georgetown this morning to clear the matter up.

It would be politically embarrassing for the PNCR for any of its senior members to occupy a lot at Pradoville 2 as the party has strongly criticized the controversial scheme.

To date the government has not explained how the land was allocated for housing, how its allottees were chosen, the pricing of the lots and concerns about preferential services to the scheme.

LIES, more PPP Lies.

Was this another PPP/PNC deal.

Look out for the PPP and PNC as one. TWO PEAS IN ONE POD.

quote:

Originally posted by Sase Singh:

quote:

Originally posted by Dharry:

quote:

Originally posted by Tola:
PNCR denies Mingo awarded Pradoville 2 lot
By Stabroek editor | 14 Comments . Thursday, September 29, 2011 Updated: 12:24 pm

PNCR General Secretary Oscar Clarke this morning denied a statement made by Dr. Roger Luncheon yesterday that Region Ten Chairman, Mortimer Mingo was allocated land at the new “Pradoville 2” housing development at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara.

During a brief telephone interview Clarke said that “I have spoken with Mingo and I am satisfied that Dr. Luncheon is at least a stranger to the truth”.

Asked if the party was denying that bit of evidence given by the Cabinet Secretary during the continuation of the President’s $10M libel suit against Kaieteur News and its Columnist Freddie Kissoon, he responded in the affirmative. (See other story on this web page.)

Clarke informed this newspaper that he was in the process of preparing a press statement in relation to the matter.

When contacted Mingo referred all questions to Clarke.

Sources close to Mingo told Stabroek News today that he was offered a house lot at Pradoville 2 but never accepted a lot there and never paid anything for it. It is unclear who offered the lot. Mingo, head of the PNCR in Region 10, travelled to Georgetown this morning to clear the matter up.

It would be politically embarrassing for the PNCR for any of its senior members to occupy a lot at Pradoville 2 as the party has strongly criticized the controversial scheme.

To date the government has not explained how the land was allocated for housing, how its allottees were chosen, the pricing of the lots and concerns about preferential services to the scheme.

LIES, more PPP Lies.

Was this another PPP/PNC deal.

Look out for the PPP and PNC as one. TWO PEAS IN ONE POD.

Mingo said they offered him, now he send a bounch cheque which bounced, and thus PPP wuking together with the PNC.

PPP bribing Region 10 man.

How can the PNC advocate for the poor.

Region 10 man ate the Kings meat.

GO KING KONG.