Opposition Leader, Joe Harmon on Thursday visited former Commissioner of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Trevor Benn who remains in Police custody facing allegations of land fraud.

Benn who served under the former Coalition government as the Head of the Lands and Surveys Commission is being questioned in relation to the sale of six acres of land in Ogle, East Coast Demerara.

According to Mr. Harmon the accusations being leveled against Mr. Benn are trumped up and are designed to embarrass the former Lands and Surveys Commission boss.

“Mr. Benn is in good spirit because he is confident that the police investigation will find nothing…This is pure outright harassment.” Mr. Harmon said moments after visiting Mr. Benn at the Brickdam lockups.

Harmon said he is not surprised that Benn was detained, noting that in 2019, now Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had threatened to go after the lands Commissioner for transactions which were conducted after the no-confidence vote.

“This is expected, this is what he said he was going to do, this is nothing about police investigation. This is pure outright political harassment of Mr. Benn and it has come after a long series of public servants who were also harassed for actually carrying out their duties, but this is not going to end well”, the Opposition Leader asserted.

“Whether you like it or not it is a political action and therefore it requires a political response, and I am saying that there will be a political response” Harmon continued.

Mr. Benn has not yet been charged.

So far, several allegations were put to him and he was taken back to the Criminal Investigation Department on Thursday to answer further questions.

“We stand with Mr. Benn and we stand with all of those public servants who were harassed, victimized, taken before the courts, just so that they can embarrass and harass them.” Mr. Harmon said.

Meanwhile, APNU+AFC, MP Coretta Mc Donald also visited Mr. Benn on Thursday.

“Too much of our brothers and fathers are being criminalized and I want to say to all, and sundry enough is enough, we have had enough of it and we will have no more of it”, McDonald said.

A candle light vigil will be held tonight in front of the Brickdam Police Station over the ongoing detention of the former Head of the Lands and Surveys Commission.  

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