Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Nigel Hughes, today said he would welcome a full investigation into his acquisition of lands, but added that there must also be an investigation into the sale of prime state lands in Ogle on the East Coast of Demerara, and along the Heroes Highway on the East Bank of Demerara.
After Mr. Hughes raised questions about the sale of prime lands at Ogle and along the Heroes’ Highway last weekend, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo came out with documents on Thursday to show that under the Coalition Government, Hughes had acquired several acres of leased lands.
Hughes has said those were provisional leases and the lease agreements have been stalled.
“I welcome, I absolutely welcome and encourage a full investigation into my acquisition of lands on the left bank of the Essequibo River in the vicinity of the mouth of the Groete Creek,” he said.
Mr. Hughes clarified that in January 2016, two years before the No-Confidence Motion, he acquired 20 acres of land in the vicinity of Groete Creek for agricultural purposes from one Simon Munroe.
“Back in January 2016, there was a gentleman called Simon Munroe, who occupied and had been farming in that area. I entered into an agreement with him. The agreement was dated the 28thJanuary 2016, and I purchased 20 acres of land from him on the left bank of the Essequibo River for the sum of $2M,” Hughes explained.
He said at the time of the acquisition, Mr. Munroe had not acquired the final lease from the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission, and the very next day, he visited the Commission and paid for inspections to be conducted.
Hughes said though he eventually secured a provisional lease for some 50 acres of land in the area, it has been eight years since he has been waiting on the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission to issue him a “final lease.”
In the absence of the final lease, he was unable to pursue his agriculture business venture with his partners.
On Thursday, Vice President Jagdeo accused the AFC Leader of also helping to secure commercial lands at Ogle for a Trinidadian company for $26M per acre, four million dollars less that was was paid by controversial real-estate developer Ed Ahmad under the current government.
But Hughes said while he has acted as a Corporate Secretary for foreign companies in his capacity as an Attorney, he is not a shareholder for any of those companies, and has never engaged in negotiations for commercial lands at Ogle and or Earl’s Court, as alleged by the Vice President.
“I am more than willing to undergo any investigation but more importantly than that, since these are national lands that are being given out under licenses of occupancies and other legal documents, let the country of Guyana know who has been awarded their lands, what rates they have been, what have been the conditions under which those lands have been awarded, so that all of us, who are citizens of this country, and are entitled to know, know. Let them investigate,” he said.
The Leader of the AFC said the investigation must cover lands sold at Ogle and along the Heroes Highway.
“We said then, and we repeat now that there is a need, and we strongly demand a full inquiry into all the lands that have been allocated along the Heroes Highway and also at Ogle,” he insisted.
Earlier this week, the Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority, Sherwyn Greaves resigned from his position as questions were raised about him singing off on land sales for Ed Ahmad and purchasing properties in New York from a company linked to Ahmad.
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