‘Pradoville 2’ deal to be re-examined

– Minister Scott

The new Government is set to examine details of how a large plot of prime seaside property was secured by the Bharrat Jagdeo administration, later developed, and then parceled off for almost next to nothing to a few friends and Government officials. Yesterday, Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Keith Scott, who is charged with housing, said he had taken note of a lead story in yesterday’s edition of Kaieteur News, which revealed details of the beneficiaries of the exclusive community known to Guyana as ‘Pradoville Two’.

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Keith Scott

“Obviously we are concerned about the details of the transactions involving this piece of property. Was it in keeping with the established regulations? Was it  advertised? How much was paid? We have to look at all this.” According to Scott, he intends to meet with the staffers of Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) “shortly” to discuss the issue. “We are examining a lot of other details at the moment. There are many citizens who are waiting anxiously to hear about their house lots and homes. So we are, of course, interested if persons were sidelined in the process or their rights trampled on. We will keep you updated as we acquire more information.” There is no evidence that regular citizens were even aware that the lands, located along the seawall at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara, were available for housing. However, what is known is that the lands were parceled and state resources used to develop drains and install other infrastructure. There are few details as to what procedures were used to allocate the lots. Under regulations, homeowners are not allowed to purchase more lots from Government lands. It is unclear whether any Government or other officials who received lands in Pradoville Two, owned properties elsewhere. With few lands available on the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara for allocations, the Pradoville Two scheme has been galling house lot applicants.

Bharrat Jagdeo

Benefitted: Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack

Benefitted: Ramesh Dookhoo

Reportedly, there are almost 10,000 applications pending on file, leaving the new Government scrambling to find new lands for housing. TWO LOTS Jagdeo himself, according to details of allocations, received two parcels equivalent to two acres. On it, he built an imposing mansion, complete with pool and overlooking the seawall and the Atlantic Ocean. He paid a total of $9.8M. He had owned a property along the Ogle Airport Road in the community that was known as ‘Pradoville One’. However, he sold that property to Trinidadian advertising executive, Ernie Ross. There is no confirmation whether the former President paid the Capital Gains tax on the profits he made on sale of the mansion or whether the 10-year timeframe had passed in which he could have sold the property. Indeed, it was reported that the property was purchased by Ross for US$600,000 ($120M). In effect, Jagdeo paid three times less than what ordinary citizens in the Diamond and Grove Housing Schemes, East Bank Demerara, would have been required to fork out. Jagdeo’s payment for the Pradoville Two parcels translated to $5M per acre which works out at $114 per square foot; the ordinary man pays $317 per square foot for his plot. The sale of the Pradoville Two house lots for such a low price would contrast starkly with what remigrants had to pay under the Government’s scheme for returning to Guyana.

Remigrants paid ten times the price that former President Bharrat Jagdeo paid for house lots. Remigrants paid $1,111 per square foot to Jagdeo’s $114 per square foot.

Remigrants paid more than ten times the price Jagdeo paid for the same size house lot. They paid $1,111 per square foot. The ordinary house lots for remigrants and citizens are not ocean-front, but are located on the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara, in what were abandoned cane fields. Pradoville Two is located in an area known officially as Plantation Sparendaam and Goedverwagting Two. Other beneficiaries included Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, and former Head of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Ramesh Dookhoo. The DPP has sweeping powers and holds an independent office. Former Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford; former Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud; Compton Bourne, former Head of the Caribbean Development Bank and UG Chancellor; Ghansham Singh and Kamini Parag-Singh and Florrie Loretta Ramnauth  also received house lots. Singh is said to be the son of former Labour Minister, Dr. Nanda Gopaul. They also paid just over $1.5M. DPP LOTS Ali-Hack and her husband, Moeen ul Hack, a top figure in the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), paid $1,488,744 for a piece of land. The Certificates of Title were prepared in 2011. Dookhoo, a Banks DIH executive, was a former Chairman of PSC as well as the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI). He reportedly paid $1,502,500 for his plot with his title prepared in 2010. Also benefitting was Lisaveta Ramotar, daughter of former President Donald Ramotar. She paid $1,515,000. Former Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee; former GWI’s boss, Shaik Baksh and former Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, also received lots, paying just over $1.5M each. So too did former Army Chief, Rear Admiral Gary Best and sacked Chief Executive Officer of the embattled Guyana Sugar Corporation, Dr. Rajendra Singh. Also named in the list were Andrew Bishop, a Presidential Advisor in the former administration and former Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission. Safraaz Khan and George Hallaq, said to be the country’s former Middle East envoy, and a company called Future Developers International Guyana Inc., were also among the other names on the list. To facilitate the construction of the scheme, the Jagdeo administration had ordered the removal of a transmitting tower of the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN), to the tune of millions. It was reportedly relocated to La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.

Ex-Minister to face court

Former Public Service Minister Dr. Jennifer Westford, could be in court before the end of the week on charges related to the illegal transfer of state vehicles to private individuals, even as she prepares to return to the National Assembly as a Member of Parliament for the Opposition People’s Progressive Party. Yesterday, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack advised the police that they can proceeded with charges against Westford and her former Personnel Officer, Margaret Cummings, ending weeks of speculation and anxiety. Westford is the first high-profile member of the former government to face corruption-related charges. The police had initially sought the DPP’s advice more than a month ago, but they were instructed to provide additional information to that which they already had.

Ex-Minister Dr. Jennifer Westford

The scheme was uncovered after former Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry, Hydar Ally,  revealed to the newly elected A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change(APNU+AFC) coalition government that there was an attempt to transfer the government vehicles to former Minister Westford, her spouse, and two other private individuals. The illegal transfers were being effected just as the new government was getting ready to take office. Shortly after the discovery, Personnel Officer Cummings, and one Joyann Taylor, were sent on leave following reports that the two were integrally involved in the suspicious transfers. In early June, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had told the media that it was brought to his attention that there were some documents which had been sent to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), that were purportedly signed by Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry, Hydar Ally. This was done under Ally’s letterhead, but signed by someone else. “He had no knowledge of this transaction,” Minister Harmon had stressed. It was Ally who directed Harmon to the discrepancy in the paperwork forwarded to the Guyana Revenue Authority for the transfer of eight vehicles. Ally showed Harmon that the signatures of Cummings and Taylor were found on the receipts for the documentation, sale and transfer of the vehicles. Westford subsequently tried defending herself by claiming that she did not know why she was being implicated. Dr. Westford had said that the transactions occurred since 2010. But documents pertaining to the transfers surfaced and they appeared to implicate Dr. Westford as well as the four other persons. One of the documents showed that on April 14, 2015, Chief Personnel Officer Margaret Cummings sent a letter to Head of the GRA, Khurshid Sattaur. The letter requested a change of registration for eight vehicles from the then Public Service Ministry to then Minister Jennifer Westford and the four persons. Another shows that after the May 11 Regional and General Elections, the GRA head replied to the letter but addressed it to the Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry, Hydar Ally. Sattaur had asked the Permanent Secretary to reissue the request of transfer since the government had changed. Ally responded on June 15, saying that the request was withdrawn, and that he only had knowledge of the original letter. Furthermore, Ally wrote to Westford on May 29, last, asking for six of the said vehicles. He also asked for the location of a black Kia Sorento bought for over $9M from Rudisa Motor Company in July 2013. Further, there are receipts showing the payments for the vehicles ranging from $300,000 to $2.1M from Dr. Westford, along with the other four, for their vehicles. In light of the overwhelming evidence, the vehicles were returned to the government. This was after Westford met with senior members of her party. She also provided a statement to the investigators. A driver who is attached to the Public Service Ministry and whose name was listed as one of those seeking a transfer of one of the vehicles, had distanced himself from the alleged fraud, and said he was not even aware that there was a move to have the vehicle transferred to his name. So far it is not clear how many and what charges will be instituted, but according to a source, those involved could face forgery among other charges.

That is a development the PNC cannot match.  The Government is entitled to set the Price and provide affordable housing for the people. It is very legal.

soo, Pradoville 2 is "affordable housing for the people" . . . "development the PNC cannot match"

huh?

lay off the crack pipe please . . . high and drunk is not the proper state for an ole refugee like u

Rama this is like how you & Corbin use to set the Amount of Duty & Taxes your friends pay at Customs to clear their Containers.

Remember no one ever Question You or Corbin.

Rama feel DPP let down Jagdeo

He should tek back de Pradoville 2 House Lot

Charge and jail all the criminals even they include the cronies from the previous Govt.

She will receive a "slap on wrist" and pay some fine.

Fmr govt minister Jennifer Westford

arrives in court to answer larceny charge

• Wednesday, 29 July 2015 10:45

Dr. Jennifer Westford arrives at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court to be arraigned on a charge of attempted larceny. Personnel Officer at the Public Service Minister, Margaret Cummings, who is charged with forgery, is behind her.

This is why Guyana is so corrupted.

A Stink Fish Minister get caught Thiefing....

Rohee saying wha is transferring Couple SUV...

is not like she thief a Chunk on the US$200 Million on the Skeldon Factory.

Why de PNC going after these Dutty Freedom House Rotten Fish.

Hydar Ally was wrong to expose the Dutty Fish....

Look Base Boy hoping he can hook up with dis Rotten Fish Minister.

Baseboy turn de corner... I wonder who he love more...

Kwame BT or Rotten Fish

PNC bais waiting to get their hands on the cookie jar, but Granger watching them.  They waiting for things to calm down.

Former Minister Jennifer Westford and Personnel Officer granted bail for government vehicle scam charges

By Staff on July 29, 2015

Dressed in a dark grey pants suit, the former PPP government Minister was the first to appear before Magistrate Ann McClennan to answer the attempted larceny charges. The Magistrate read the charges to her which detailed her alleged attempt to steal eight government vehicles while she was in the employ of the government of Guyana between July 2014 and June 2015.

Former Minister of Public Service, Jennifer Westford was granted $800, 000 bail this morning on four attempted larceny charges which stemmed from the probe into the illegal transfer of government vehicles that belong to the Public Service Ministry.

The former Personnel Officer for the Minister, Margaret Cummings was granted $1.2 Million bail on four charges of  forgery with the intent to defraud.

Dressed in a dark grey pants suit, the former PPP government Minister was the first to appear before Magistrate Ann McClennan to answer the attempted larceny charges. The Magistrate read the charges to her which detailed her alleged attempt to steal eight government vehicles while she was in the employ of the government of Guyana between July 2014 and June 2015.

The court heard that the vehicles were being transferred to different persons including the former Minister herself and her spouse.

At first she was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charges but after the Police Prosecutor indicated that it was preferable for the case to be tried at the Magistrates Court level, the charges were put again to Westford as she agreed with the request to have the matter heard before the Magistrates Court.

As the four charges were read slowly to the former Minister, she affirmed her innocence by declaring “not guilty” on each of the four charges when asked by the Magistrate. Her voice appeared broken as she spoke in a soft tone while standing in the prisoners’ dock.

The former Minister was represented by five attorneys including another former Minister and official of the People’s Progressive Party, Bibi Shadick.

Westford was granted a total bail of $800,000 on the four charges after her attorneys requested that court be lenient. As she was transferred to the holding cell, a smiling but visibly shaken Westford whipped out her mobile phone to answer a call. She remained in the detention area until her bail was granted.

Personnel Officer Margaret Cummings being escorted out of the courtroom.

The former Personnel Officer for the same Public Service Ministry appeared in court just after Westford but she faced forgery with intend to defraud charges. She was also read a total of four charges. The woman, Margaret Cummings appeared before the court in a black business suit and proclaimed her innocence with regard to her alleged forgery of documents for the transfer of the eight government vehicles to private owners. She was granted bail amounting to $1.2 million on the four charges.

As she headed out of the courtroom for the detention area, the woman pulled out her dark glasses as media cameras flashed photographs.

Both women are expected to reappear in court for the start of their trials on the 10th August, 2015. They will be appearing before another magistrate

Law Firm of Luncheon & Luncheon 

defending the Stink Fish Minister.

The former Minister was represented by five attorneys including another former Minister and official of the People’s Progressive Party, Bibi Shadick.

Westford was granted a total bail of $800,000 on the four charges after her attorneys requested that court be lenient.

As she was transferred to the holding cell,

a smiling but visibly shaken Westford

whipped out her mobile phone to answer a call.

She remained in the detention area until her bail was granted.

Now Baseman will tell us what is a Holding Cell?

http://prison-architect.wikia.com/wiki/Holding_Cell

Ah deh here watchin dat Margaret woman bamsie...it look kinda nice an plump. She look nice an healthy.

Yo notice nuh

Sexist lil bai, yuh muddah should put two tight lash pon yuh rass.

Jagdeo gave himself two plots

Jagdeo gave himself two plots

 

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