Dear Editor,
Mr McKenzie, former PNC Minister of Agriculture, does not recall 10,000 acres at Manarabisi going to Mr Lumumba in 1992. Mr Lumumba confirmed on May 13, 2010 that he got approval for land at Akawini. He did not mention anything about the Manarabisi land. Akawini is a red herring being raised by Mr Lumumba. Manarabisi is the heart of the matter. Why? Because the land Mr Lumumba sold behind the Botanical Gardens came into Lumumba’s ownership out of an arrangement stemming from the Manarabisi lands. That is the only linkage that matters. Mr Lumumba wrote a letter titled ‘SN has an ulterior design in publishing stories about me’ in which he stated how he gained ownership of the plot of land known as Tract C, Rear of Botanical Gardens, Mandela Avenue which was subsequently sold for a handsome profit.
Mr Lumumba said in 1992 under the PNC he was given approximately ten thousand acres of land by lease for agricultural purposes at Manarabisi, Berbice. When the PPP came to power, Lumumba said he was requested by then President Dr Cheddi Jagan, to relinquish approximately 4,000 acres of land to be made available to the cattle farmers in the area. He claimed he had already expended millions to prepare the land but willingly agreed to give up the 4,000 acres of land on the condition that another plot of land be made available to him. Mr Lumumba stated that pursuant to this arrangement, Cabinet approved the sale of a parcel of land located next to the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School to him some time in 1994. We all know this land ended up going to the Guyana Muslim Mission Limited. Lumumba claims that he was never involved in identifying any plots of land that should be allotted to him. He stated in his letter that the Government of Guyana offered the plot of land known as Tract C, Rear of Botanical Gardens, Mandela Avenue at a purchase price of approximately G$2.5 million.
1. Where is the documentary proof of Mr Lumumba’s ownership of the lands at Manarabisi? Mr Lumumba, the Lands and Surveys Commission and any other relevant government body should have proof of ownership.
2. In what form was the late President Jagan’s request to Lumumba to relinquish 4000 acres? Was this an order of Cabinet or a personal request of the President and are there documents pertaining to this request? Are any government or PPP members aware of this request? How about cattle farmers in the Manarabisi area, are they aware of this request by the President? Does Mr Lumumba have documents in his possession relating this request?
3. Similarly, Mr Lumumba’s condition of relinquishment of the Manarabisi lands should have a paper trail. He, Cabinet, President Jagan’s office, Lands and Surveys Commission and other agencies should have correspondence documenting this condition. Perhaps Mr Lumumba could make it public because this is the very core of this issue. Proof that 4000 acres were relinquished to the State without the existence of an agreement between Lumumba and the state or without proof of a special promise by the President acting under his executive powers is nothing more than the State reclaiming its land.
4. Mr Lumumba says that he was never involved in identifying any plots of land that should be allotted to him. This statement implies that it was the government, and not Mr Lumumba who made all the moves and took all the actions regarding identifying the disputed land located next to the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School on Mandela Avenue and Tract C, Rear of Botanical Gardens, Mandela Avenue. The press statements of the Muslim Mission in relation to the land next to the school have not presented Mr Lumumba as an innocent bystander.
5. The government should release the documentation pertaining to Mr Lumumba’s acquisition of Tract C, Rear of Botanical Gardens, Mandela Avenue at a purchase price of approximately $2.5 million. It should produce the document that shows Lumumba obtained this land based on an agreement or on an express presidential promise. It must show that this land was not obtained by an ordinary decision of Cabinet without consideration of or reliance on this pre-existing agreement or presidential promise.
Yours faithfully,
Michael Maxwell
