Former Prime Minister Sam Hinds claims NCN tower was moved to facilitate Ogle Airport expansion

Mr. Hinds was not arrested but was invited by the investigators to provide some clarity specifically on the decision to remove the AM Transmission tower of the National Communications Network. Hinds served as Minister of Telecommunications.

Former Prime Minister Sam Hinds claims NCN tower was moved to facilitate Ogle Airport expansion

Former Prime Minister of Guyana, Samuel Hinds, who also briefly served as President, appeared before investigators of the Special Organised Crime Unit today, as the unit continued with its probe of the Pradoville Two land acquisition scandal involving cabinet members and other officials of the former government.

Mr. Hinds was not arrested  but was invited by the investigators to provide some clarity specifically on the decision to remove the AM Transmission tower of the National Communications Network.

Hinds served as Minister of Telecommunications.

He said he told the investigators that the tower at Sparendaam was removed as part of the expansion of the Ogle Airport to accommodate larger aircraft and gain international airport status. The tower had been flagged by aviation experts as being in the flight path.

Mr. Hinds recounted that dating as far back as 1994, the new PPP government under President at the time, Cheddi Jagan, was contacted by local airline representatives about the need for the expansion of the airport.

It would take the government another 16 years to move the transmission tower. It was dismantled and removed from the Sparendaam area at a cost of over $180 million between 2009 and 2010.

It was around that same time that the President at the time, Bharrat Jagdeo and a number of his cabinet members and associates, started to acquire land in the same area where the tower once stood to build their sea side dream homes.

The Special Organised Crime Unit has questioned a number of other former PPP government officials about their roles in acquiring lands at far below market prices and allegedly utilizing resources of the state to develop the land for their personal use.

Today former Education Minister Priya Manickchand, former GWI Chief Executive, Shaik Baksh and former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali appeared before the SOCU investigators to face questioning. They all acquired land in the area.  Ms. Manickchand, who also served as Mr. Hinds’ attorney during his SOCU appearance, is believed to have sold her house in the area for more than $100 million.

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