Wilfred Rambarran, the owner of the property on which the Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal is located, is claiming $13m per month in rental since April this year.
In correspondence today from his lawyers to attorney general Anil Nandlall, Rambarran has threatened to retake possession of the facility if payment is not made.
“…our client demands the payment of all arrears of rent due within fourteen (14) days of the date of this letter, failing which he will terminate the tenancy and take steps to recover possession of the property”, the letter said.
It is unclear whether there is a legal tenancy agreement in place as the letter only refers to a draft agreement. The letter said that no rent was paid to Rambarran for the use of the hotel.
Under the APNU +AFC administration, Rambarran had kept silent about the financial arrangements for the building which is now the centre of major controversy over its $1.6b cost and the fact that it remains unfurnished and may not have been properly constructed to fit its purpose.
The breaking of his silence today will raise eyebrows.
Rambarran says he remains the owner of the facility and even though efforts were initiated by the APNU+AFC administration to compulsorily acquire the facility there were no negotiations.
In the correspondence on behalf of Rambarran, CV Satram says the purported notice of compulsory acquisition that was issued by the APMU+AFC administration is “unconstitutional and ineffectual in law. Compensation has not been assessed or paid to our client”.
Satram said that at the time of the purported notice of acquisition, his client had received offers exceeding US$E15m.
At some point of the discussions over the former Ocean View hotel, the APNU+AFC government moved from a simple lease to an intention to purchase, hence the $1.6b works which ensured over the last three months.
It was only days ago that the facility was commissioned by former President David Granger. At that point no details were provided on the financial arrangements for the facility.
The erection of the facility was done on an emergency basis after the COVID-19 pandemic hit Guyana.
The opaque arrangements for the hospital have already attracted the interest of the Office of Auditor General and while in opposition the PPP/C had said it will be investigated.
