| …and the transfer of the Sanata Complex to Jagdeo’s best friendThe National Industrial Commercial and Investments Limited (NICIL), during the last quarter of 2011, disposed of 16 plots of land to several individuals in Mackenzie/Linden Industrial Site.The sale of land minus the amount of money received for the various plots, each less than an acre, has been documented in the Official Gazette date March, 2012 and points to agreements for the sale which were effected in August 2011 but made final in February.According to the information published in the Gazette the Order was made by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh.In the various agreements of sale pointed out in the Gazette the purchasers of the various plots of land located at various sections of the Mackenzie, Linden Industrial Site are: Gordon Forde,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, Trenton Ainsley Garner and Audrey Garner(jointly), Maurice Emanuel Reece and Monica Elaine Reece (jointly), Keith Alvin Daniels and Enid Patricia Daniels (jointly), Marclyn Simon, Bibi Omina, Wilson Farrey Browne and Barbara Ann Browne (jointly), Faczul Alli and Petyal McKoy-Alli, Roy Alexander Telford,Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys, Janice Donna Burgan, Shivon Natasha Greene as well as Robert Greene and Mayfil Orlene Demattos Greene (jointly).Forde is the father of Carlyle Benn, 28, of Section ‘O’ Wismar who was shot once in his back by police in Wismar in 2009.Keith Daniels was jointly charged in 2010 with Garvin Johnson for being in possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.It was alleged that the two men had conducted a drug business with police in a sting operation. The two men were said to have had in their possession 4kg 396g of cocaine which they gave to the police while conducting business.Robert Greene is a taxi driver in the mining town of Linden.NICIL has over the years come in for flak as it relates to accountability following the disposal of assets given that the funds accumulated have not been transferred to the Consolidated Fund.The previous year NICIL handled an estimated 30 properties but no sale prices have been disclosed or monies transferred to Government’s Consolidated Fund.One property was transferred from GUYSUCO to Prime Minister Samuel A.A Hinds and Yvonne Z. Hinds jointly.Another property was transferred from NICIL to Queens Atlantic Investment Inc. headed by Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s best friend.This property worth billions of dollars has been identified as 4702 Plantation Ruimveldt, with an area of 18.871 acres. The sale price is still unknown.There was no known advertisement of this transfer nor was there a tender.With the absence of any annual reports for NICIL since 2002, there are no indications that any monies will be paid to the fund.Christopher Ram, whose company, Ram and McRae has been conducting reviews of Guyana’s budget for the last few years, believes that NICIL has become the vehicle of choice and a “convenience for diverting public funds for all kinds of unusual expenses.“As it has succeeded in that unlawful and dangerous role it has become more brazen and less concerned about public criticisms.”NICIL was established under the former Companies Act and the Public Corporations Act to subscribe for, take or otherwise acquire and hold the government shares, stocks, debentures or other securities of any company, co-operatives societies or body corporate.“It has been doing much more than that. It was involved in the sale of land at Pradoville 2; the sale of properties to politically-connected business persons and to others; and it was involved in the controversial and contested award of the Amaila Falls Road contract to Synergy Inc. It is a government favourite that acts as though it too enjoys immunity from action.”Among the most notable of the questionable transactions done in 2010 by NICIL was the transfer of government land at Liliendaal and Pattensen, East Coast Demerara, to NICIL.This land, 103.88 acres, was in turn sold to National Hardware Guyana Limited for $600M.According to Ram in analysis, there is nothing that would have prevented the government from selling the property to National Hardware and placing the money direct into the Consolidated Fund.“Instead,Cheap Jerseys USA, the land is first vested in NICIL which then sells the land, holding the money which it can then spend as it pleases and pay into the Consolidated Fund whatever dividends its directors – all politicians – choose to pay.”This is in direct violation to the Constitution and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act which state that monies should be placed in the Consolidated Fund, from which it can only be withdrawn with parliamentary approval.Another questionable transaction was the dealing with the property,Soccer Jerseys From China, 6.88 acres at the north western side of the Kingston seawall, which was slated for a Marriott Hotel.This land is earmarked for the Kingston Atlantic Hotel which is a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of NICIL and whose sole director is the CEO of NICIL.“It would be hard to find a more improperly interconnected relationship even in a private setting. NICIL is 100 per cent state-owned. There is no indication that NICIL will be paying any money into the Consolidated Fund in 2011 or that it will become compliant with the Companies Act 1991 or the Public Corporations Act or have its annual reports laid in the National Assembly by its subject minister who is the Minister of Finance,” the accountant argued.He noted that in no instance is the price,Cheap Jerseys Free, at which each of the properties sold by NICIL,Cheap Jerseys From China, disclosed in the public records.“Clearly the publication is intended merely to meet statutory requirements (in the National Gazette), and not to provide information. NICIL, most of whose board members are members of the Cabinet, has failed to file annual returns and audited financial statements with the Registrar of Companies.”Ram claimed that in his opinion, the Constitution is subverted with the politicians controlling public moneys and the public is kept in the dark. |
