‘Pradoville 2’ buildings in violation of regulations

– Region Four chairman seeks answers

Buildings at ‘Pradoville 2’ where President Bharrat Jagdeo and top government are building houses may be in violation of several regulations as permission was not sought from the local authorities, building plans were never submitted nor were they certified by the Environmen-tal Health Officer.

The exclusive housing development at Sparendaam North, in proximity to the sea defence structure, has been under scrutiny with several members of society accusing the officials building homes there of elitism, in view of the “special” treatment afforded to the development.

Clement Corlette

Chairman of Region Four Clement Corlette has written to the Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority Myrna Pitt seeking answers and in his letter which was seen by Stabroek News, Corlette noted that at a Region Four Administrative Committee meeting on April 12, the chairman of the Industry/Plaisance Neighbourhood Democratic Council, Clinton Rollox was unable to account for the extensive work underway at the development.

“The Neighbourhood Democratic Council, Chairman admitted that erections were under construction but he reported that the Local Authority never was approached for permission to build; that no building plans were submitted to the Local Planning Authority. The Environmental Health Officer had not seen and or certified/recommended building plan/s for the buildings now under construction,” Corlette wrote. “According to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council Chairman, he and his council have not seen any document that establishes proof of ownership of the land, as such the council is unable to determine to what extent the construction being undertaken is of individual or corporate enterprise,” he added.

One of the hosues being built at Pradoville 2 (SN file photo)
One of the hosues being built at Pradoville 2 (SN file photo)

“In view of the account of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council Chairman on the issue at hand to the Regional Administrative Committee meeting, I here(by) input to you that the authority for creation of structures referred to are in doubt and may be in violation of the regulations of the Central Board of Health and the Central Housing and Planning Authority since the Local Planning Authority is unaware of the proof of ownership of the land by whomsoever maybe engaged in the erection of structures individually or collectively,” Corlette said.

“It is my view as the Chairman of Region Four, that something seems unusual and as such I call upon you to assist with the due regularisation of the situation,” he added. He asked that information be provided to him as proof that transport, title, or lease exists for the land to each of the occupiers of the land whosoever they may be. He also asked for information that a second certificate or land use clearance has been obtained for the land to be used for residential development by the Central Board of Health.

Corlette also requested proof that a cadastral plan exists to show the layout for each house lot, location of roads, drains, green space and community ground or plot for public building/s. He also asked whether a potable water distribution network is provided for and structured erection of electricity poles and supply network.

Further, Corlette asked for information on the on the total quantified house lots available and how much remain unoccupied or uncommitted as well as information on authorization to build for each construction now underway.

“Your kind assistance on all of the foregoing would be greatly appreciated and would assist all concerns now unfolding,” he said. Corlette noted that it has been alleged that prominent Guyana government officials are identified with the activity of erection of structures at the site. He said that it is further alleged that Jagdeo, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud are among those “suspected to have a strong interest or possible ownership of the land or portions of land within the area.”

The new housing development is on the land where NCN’s radio transmitter was once sited.

The transmitter has been relocated to the West Bank Demerara. Since construction began last year, questions have been raised about whether the land was advertised publicly and how it was allocated and valued, among others.

Facing accusations of elitism in the laying of a water main to the new housing scheme, President Jagdeo had told reporters at a press conference in February that he did not know about a “special” pipeline but knew that the scheme had water. Homes are not yet completed.

PNCR-1G Shadow Minister of Housing Aubrey Norton had raised the issue during the 2011 budget debate.

He had said that the “elites” continued to abuse their power by running a main from the water plant at Better Hope straight to ‘Pradoville 2,’ as the housing scheme has been dubbed. Norton said this was done while residents of Dazzell, Bare Root, Victoria and many housing schemes along the East Coast Demerara still do not have access to water. Since the questions about the Pradoville 2 water supply were raised, the President has announced an expedited water service for Dazzell Housing Scheme. Sparendaam residents have told this newspaper that the main to the new housing development was laid some time around October/ November last year. It was laid although homes are not yet completed.

Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) officials have refused to answer questions on the issue and Ali also refused to answer questions posed by Norton in Parliament. Ali also previously refused to answer questions posed by Stabroek News on the scheme.

Speaking to this newspaper, Norton had said: “If you’re a government, first you must serve the people. And if areas want water and you’re not giving it to them, well you say you don’t have the resources to give it to them. [But] then suddenly you can get the resources to run a direct main and give there water before the housing scheme is completed then clearly you can’t be serving the average man because there is a housing scheme that is getting water before the actual completion of the houses while housing schemes with hundreds of houses have no water and still waiting and you say there is a shortage of resources. That to me smacks of elitism,” he said.

On the question of whether persons who obtained lots at Sparendaam are lot owners or would have owned other house lots within a given time frame, thus making them not eligible for another house lot, Jagdeo had said that he wouldn’t be able to react to that. “From my impression [it’s] that nobody who owns the land now would have the land there. That’s what I was told. Nobody should have another piece of land at this time,” he said.

Asked whether the land was purchased through the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Ltd (NICIL), the President had responded, “I wouldn’t have a clue” and he didn’t check. He then clarified that he had purchased his land there from the Ministry of Housing and Water. “All are housing,” he had said.

Jagdeo had previously acknowledged that he is one of the persons building houses at Pradoville 2. He said land for housing has never gone to tender and the land was allocated to people in the cabinet who didn’t have. He explained that he paid $5 million per acre and those building in the new scheme include cabinet members, professionals, people from the army, police, some regional chairmen, among others.