Hotel investors relinquish land acquired under Coalition Gov’t

THE owners of Caribbean Marketing Enterprises Incorporated (CMEI) have relinquished the 21 acres of land at Ogle, East Coast Demerara they acquired under the former APNU+AFC administration subsequent to the passage of the No-Confidence Motion in December 2018.

The Motion, which was tabled in December 2018 by then Parliamentary Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), received the support of former Government Parliamentarian, Charrandass Persaud, who voted in favour of it.

Following the passage of this motion, it was implied that the sitting government would assume a ‘caretaker’ role until a national election was held. But a slew of legal challenges prolonged the process, affording the former government the time to conduct transactions, which were ultimately still viewed as illicit.
The CMEI group was one such company which conducted transactions with the former administration; its directors are Mike Elliot, Edmond Braithwaite, Ray Murphy, Roy Clauss and Gary Gilbert.

It was reported in February this year that the company had acquired land in Ogle to construct two five-star hotels. The company had even announced that construction would have commenced in April this year, after all the requisite documents were finalised.

The company, in a press statement on Thursday, said they became interested in Guyana based on the recommendation of the owners of Hilton and Marriott Hotels.
“In 2016, we attempted to engage the previous administration on the purchase of the Marriot Hotel, but this was unsuccessful. In mid-2018, we engaged NICIL in relation to the acquisition of real estate in the Ogle area, as this was in close proximity to one of our major clients.

“Admittedly, this was a very lengthy, tedious and transparent process, with its fair share of frustrations, coupled with ongoing costs and redundant paperwork. Notwithstanding these issues, we were finally able to complete the acquisition of twenty-one acres of real estate in the Ogle area,” said CMEI.
The conclusion of this process was timed with the five-month elections delay following polling day on March 2, 2020, and the novel coronavirus pandemic.

UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION
“These combined conditions have placed us in a very unfamiliar and uncomfortable position. It is these prevailing conditions, coupled with the spirit of cooperation, goodwill and support of the new Guyana Government that we have chosen to relinquish the twenty-one acres of land obtained by us to NICIL’s possession, with our return of capital invested,” said CMEI.
The company became inclined to do this after ‘recognising’ that the new Government of Guyana has the best interest of the Guyanese people at heart.
“As US nationals, some with Guyanese heritage, we are confident on the way forward, and believe that our multinational team and associated partners can be a world-class partner for Guyana. We have committed to support the Government as they embark on the journey to develop Guyana and improve the lives of the people,” CMEI assured its target audience.
Further development plans, according to the company, will be discussed with the new Government.

It was reported recently that the government will be taking legal action against former Finance Minister Winston Jordan and former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Colvin Heath-London for lands vested to private investors by the past administration during its time as a “caretaker government”.

Based on a list issued by the Attorney- General’s (AG) Chambers recently, lands valuing $2,383,390,759 were issued by the former administration to eight private investors, while only $64,623,276 was paid over, which is a mere two per cent of the consolidated total.

Further, each of those titles was vested after the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, and each Agreement of Sale was entered into after the former government was toppled by the successful passage of the no-confidence motion.

ACTED RECKLESSLY
“The Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs has sought and received independent legal advice on this matter, and the advice is that Minister Winston Jordan and Mr. Colvin Heath-London have acted recklessly, in bad faith with full knowledge of the flagrant illegalities which have resulted in millions of dollars of losses to the State,” said the AG’s Chambers.

Nandlall was clear that no actions would be taken against companies that surrender their allotted lands to the State. Already, Navigant Builders, Corum Group, Cardiology Services Inc., Supergraphic, American Marine Services Inc., and GUYOIL have voluntarily offered to surrender lands vested to them.

The Attorney-General, however, committed to releasing information related to more infractions committed, allegedly, by Jordan and London.
Heath-London was arrested on Friday last as investigations continue into the prime State lands, but has since been released.

London’s legal team has laid all wrongdoings at the feet of the former CEO of NICIL, Mr. Horace James, who is now deceased.
Prominent People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) member and Attorney-at-Law James Bond, has also been arrested as the probe into the award of State lands at Peter’s Hall, on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) widens.

Bond, who is at the centre of several ‘deals’, is being questioned in relation to conspiracy to defraud the State.
He is accused of benefitting from land deals emanating from the sale of State lands while purportedly looking after the interest of NICIL, which was presiding over the leasing of the lands.