AG is moving to restore lands improperly sold to a GL&SC board member under APNU / AFC Govt

The Government has moved to recover parcels of land sold to one individual under the previous Government A Partnership for National Unity / Alliance for Change (APNU / AFC) without following the legal process, warning it to fail ‘ r land leads to civil and even criminal consequences.

In a letter from the Attorney General (AG) and Senior Counsel Anil Nandlall on behalf of the State and Guyana’s Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC), the AG revealed that a GL&SC board member had purchased the land for only $ 13.5 million, well below initial valuation, together with comparative valuations of similar parcels of land in the area.
The sale agreement was executed between a GL&SC board member and then Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) Commissioner Trevor Benn, dated March 23, 2020. The AG pointed out that a GL&SC board member, who once sat on the G&SC Board, was certificate of title to him for two parcels of land at Ruimveldt plantation, dated April 15, 2020.
“The parcels of land were sold to you for a total purchase price of $ 13.5 million. A review of this and similar transactions reveals that parcels of land of a similar size in those immediate vicinity have been sold by the Government for as much as $ 150 million, more than 10 times the price you paid , ”The letter from the AG to the GL&SC board member said.
“This was a fact within the strange information or it should have been within a strange knowledge of you and then the Commissioner as you both served on the Guyana Lands Commission and Surveys Board,” he wrote.
Nandlall also revealed that the Commissioner had obtained two valuations for the exact land acquired by a GL&SC board member. One valued the land at $ 60 million, while another valued it at $ 13.5 million.
In addition, Nandlall noted that, at the time the former Commissioner made the agreement, the then President David Granger had not given the GL&SC Commissioner the power to sell the State lands. That power remained in the President, rendering his title void.
In the letter, a GL&SC board member was given the choice – to surrender the land and get a portion of its money back, or be brought to court for compensation, cancel the title and take possession of the land. He would also face a criminal investigation.
“Although in the circumstances you may not be legally entitled to return the purchase price paid, in the interest of avoiding legal action … we are prepared to repay you an appropriate amount of money provided you surrender all your alleged. rights, title and benefits in the said land parcels over to and in favor of the State, ”Nandlall wrote.
“If you are so inclined, please kindly contact us within 14 days of this date, with the GL&SC Commissioner to finalize the terms of the settlement. If you do not (accept) this offer, civil proceedings will be initiated against you … in addition, the documents will be passed to Guyana Police for initiation of criminal investigations. “
Trevor Benn, who was appointed by the former Government back in 2016, received his marching orders shortly after the new Government took over last year and was terminated from February 4, 2021.
He had been under the spotlight for killing a number of land transactions made by the GL&SC under the previous Government, which led to the issuing of certificates of titles to persons for lands sold at market value, which are under review currently from the Ministry of Legal Affairs.
One of the first acts of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government in August was to revoke Benn’s powers to approve and grant leases and licenses, or grant permission to occupy State lands. He was then sent on vacation, after making a transfer statement to his successor Enrique Monize. This publication was unable to contact Benn for comment on the transaction. (G3)