Chairman of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Hamilton Green said last evening that the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) has written asking for information which will assist in the probe into the allocations of land at ‘Pradoville 2’, Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara.
Green said that a letter requesting information was received on Tuesday. This follows one sent earlier. He said that in the letters there were “a lot of questions about the way the land was allocated”. He said that it is being suggested that the allocation process was far from proper.
According to Green he has since instructed CH&PA officers that they “must co-operate” and provide the information being asked for. He is hopeful that “credible information” will be provided.
Well-placed sources said yesterday that the investigation is moving apace and is expected to pick up speed next week once the consideration of the 2017 budget estimates has ended.
Several of the former cabinet members are sitting opposition MPs. It would seems that the investigators would prefer to have a smooth flow of the process and not have to speak to some now and others later.
The team that will be handling the prosecution of the matter has already been chosen. This was revealed by Minister of State Joseph Harmon who declined to give names. He stated that the team is comprised of both local and foreign persons.
A special investigation of the Sparendaam Housing Project, which was part of a larger probe of the financial operations of the CH&PA was conducted by accounting firm Ram & McRae.
The investigation revealed that the allocation of the land was a clandestine arrangement that was handled personally by former housing minister Irfaan Ali and it was concluded that a criminal case for misfeasance can be made against the PPP/C Cabinet members who benefited.
The forensic audit, found that awardees grossly underpaid for the lots by a total of nearly $250 million, while the state-owned National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), National Communications Network (NCN) and Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) were never reimbursed for millions spent to execute preparatory works.
“Our examination leads to the conclusion that the project was done outside of the established procedures and that Minister Ally [sic] piloted every aspect of the transaction without recourse to the Authority. While the minister has considerable powers under the Housing Act, his role in the issue of titles was well outside of his functions and powers,” the final report, which seen by Stabroek News, said.
The report added that the awardees made payments to the CH&PA but these were significantly lower than the market value. “No files were maintained by CHPA for any of the plots allocated by a process that can be described as lacking transparency at best,” it further said.
It was stated that of the 28 lots, totalling 12.1187 acres, only 3.9693 acres remain unallocated.
It was explained that lots were allocated to six Cabinet members—former president Bharrat Jagdeo, cabinet secretary Dr Roger Luncheon and ministers Priya Manickchand, Dr Jennifer Westford, Robert Persaud and Clement Rohee—along with other persons with connections to the government.
Of much concern was the involvement of DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack. She was an allottee. The report said that she should not be involved in the matter.
Following the completion of the special investigation and the compilation of a final report the matter was handed over to SOCU for a criminal probe to be conducted.
