Chief Justice blocks GGMC $3Billion loan to Housing Ministry; Declares it null and void

In his ruling, Chief Justice Chang the decision behind the agreement was "irrational and ultra vires". He has now made absolute the Orders of certiorari and prohibition which were granted when the matter first went to the court.

Chief Justice blocks GGMC $3Billion loan to Housing Ministry; Declares it null and void

Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang has ruled that the agreement which was entered into by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Central Housing and Planning Authority for a $3 Billion loan by the GGMC, is null and void.

The ruling has effectively blocked the transfer of the money from the government agency to the other government agency. The government had claimed that the multi billion dollar loan was to facilitate a housing project, although the Ministry of Housing receives a hefty chunk of the national budget and rakes in hundreds of millions of dollars through the sale of land.

In his ruling, Chief Justice Chang said the decision behind the agreement was “irrational and ultra vires”. He has now made absolute, the Orders of certiorari and prohibition, which were granted when the matter first went to the court.

The action against the two government agencies were made by Member of the Working People’s Alliance and former Member of Parliament, Desmond Trotman.

The agreement came as a surprise to many on the political platform since it was done secretly and only came to light when one section of the media started to report on it based on leaked documents.

Additionally, several members of the Central Housing and Planning Authority and the Geology and Mines Commission appeared unaware of any agreement.

The government had sought to justify the loan but came under heavy criticism from opposition political parties since the agreement was made when the National Assembly was no longer in session and therefore there would have been very little oversight.

Attorney-At-Law Christopher Ram represented Trotman in the matter.

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