Housing Ministry defends sale of Ogle lands to company managed by Ed Ahmad; AFC Leader raises more concerns

Housing Ministry defends sale of Ogle lands to company managed by Ed Ahmad; AFC Leader raises more concerns

Alliance for Change Leader, Nigel Hughes, is pressing the Ministry of Housing to come clean on a July, 2024 land sale deal that went down between the Central Housing and Planning Authority and New Global Investments Incorporated, a company that has controversial and convicted US-based Guyanese real estate developer, Ed Ahmad as its Director and Secretary.

At issue is New Global’s July 2024 purchase of 30 acres of land for real estate development in Plantation Ogle for $30 million per acre.

The land is located close to the ExxonMobil Head Office, which is currently under construction.

Ahmad was found guilty in a multi-million US dollar mortgage fraud in New York and remains under Court supervision, even after completing his jail time. He has to seek permission from the Court every time he wants to leave the US.

Hughes has questioned whether the Central Housing and Planning Authority can indicate where a citizen can purchase an acre of land for $30 million at Ogle near to the ExxonMobil intended Head Office.

He called on the Minister who overlooks the CHPA to issue a statement on the issue. 

The Ministry of Housing and Water issued a statement late on Friday night indicating that the acquisition of commercial lands is an open process, available to any interested company or individuals. 

The Authority said it guarantees that “all transactions follow established protocols rigorously, including those concerning the recent sale of commercial lands”.

The Ministry said it publicly advertised a call for Expressions of Interest from housing developers, and multiple companies not only expressed interest, but also met the outlined criteria.

On the $30 million per acre price tag, the CHPA said the price is a uniformed rate which was established for all developers, and there were no preferential rates or special considerations afforded to any entity.

“Concerning pricing, a uniform rate of $30 million per acre was established for all developers. There were absolutely no preferential rates or special considerations afforded to any entity. Per our standard procedures, all companies acquiring prime commercial lands are strictly required to adhere to the stipulated agreements regarding property use. Any deviation from these agreements will incur penalties, as detailed in the contractual arrangements”, the CHPA said.

In a second statement within 24 hours, Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal reminded Mr. Hughes that under the APNU+AFC Government, multiple land deals were signed at the same $30 million per acre and lower to developers and that took place in the run up to the last elections and after a no-confidence vote had been passed against the then Government.

Mr. Croal said ironically, when the current Government sought to cancel the deals, many of the developers rushed to the law firm where Mr. Hughes serves as a partner, to represent their interest.

Since raising his initial questions and concerns, the AFC Leader has now released copies of documents which show that six months before the agreement was inked between Ed Ahmad’s New Global Investments Incorporated and the Central Housing and Planning Authority for the Ogle land, there was a property deal signed for the sale of a house in Queens New York between another company reportedly managed by a relative of Ahmad and the CEO of the Central Housing and Planning Authority.  The house was later resold.

Hughes is raising questions about the transparency of the land sale and whether it may have been linked to the property purchase in the United States.

Meanwhile, the Sherriff Group of Companies in Guyana has distanced itself from Ed Ahmad, indicating in a social media post that he has no ties to the company.  The Sherriff Group is contolled and managed by a relative, Ameir Ahmad.

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