On September 24, 2019, President, David Granger addressed the nation and declared March 2, 2020, to be Election Day. But less than a week before that announcement, the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) was gearing up to sell prime properties to affiliates of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
One of the sales it executed was to APNU Minister Valerie Patterson-Yearwood. She had served as Minister of Housing before being transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture, and tasked with responsibility for Rural Affairs. The transfer occurred in April 2019, after it was discovered that her husband was contracted by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), a body which she previously presided over.
According to the Official Gazette, NICIL sold Patterson-Yearwood of Lot 17 Coralita Avenue Bel Air Park, immovable property at number 51 Richmond Hill, Mackenzie containing an area of one acre, otherwise known as Plantation Noitgedacht. The sale was executed and signed by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan on September 13, 2019. It was gazetted on October 19, 2019.
Another sale was also executed by NICIL on the same date but this time with the son of Managing Director of Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) Dr. Richard Van-West Charles. The Official Gazette of October 19, 2019, states that NICIL sold Kitindi Van West Charles immovable property at Lot 10A, being a portion of Plantation Fair’s Rust or Lot 44 situated on the right bank of the Demerara River, and containing 0.567 acres. The sale also received the blessings of Minister Jordan.
Also, a beneficiary of another NICIL property was APNU Candidate, Amanza Walton Desir. According to the Official Gazette, NICIL sold Desir of Lot 1285 EE Eccles, East Bank Demerara immovable property at Lot 48 being a portion of Plantation Fair’s Rust situated on the right bank of the Demerara River. The sale was dated August 23, 2019, and gazetted on August 31, 2019.
It should be noted that the foregoing sales would have taken place after the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruled in July 2019 that the Opposition’s No-Confidence Motion was validly passed by the National Assembly on December 21, 2018, and that elections should be held soon.
As for NICIL’s most recent transaction, this was executed with well-known businessman Brian Tiwari. The Proprietor of BK International and BK Maine Inc was sold prime waterfront property. The details of the Official Gazette note that he was sold Water or Mud-lots one and two situated in Cummingsburg. Georgetown, with all buildings, erections, stellings, platforms and further appurtenances belonging to Transport 530 of 1947. He was also sold Lot F being a portion of Lot 3 North Cummingsburg and comprises 1.012 acres as shown on a plan No. 27946 drawn by M.S Azam, Sworn Land Surveyor and dated May 12, 1998, with all buildings and erections.
In addition to this, he purchased from NICIL Lots A, B, and D comprising 0.032 acres, 1.263 acres and 0.263 acres respectively, all being portions of North Cummingsburg with buildings and erections. The transfer of properties according to the Official Gazette, took place on February 26, 2020 and was signed by Finance Minister, Winston Jordon. It was gazetted on March 28, 2020.
