There are quite a few aspects of a deal that well-known businessman, Wilfred Bransford secured with the previous government that Attorney General (AG), Anil Nandlall finds unsettling. As such, the State’s legal point-man has issued Bransford, owner of Car Care, an ultimatum which he has a limit of 14 days to take or leave.
While sitting as a Director on the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, Bransford secured two plots of land from the APNU-AFC government through what is being described as a ‘sweetheart deal.’
The two parcels were given to Bransford for $13.5M when they are valued at about $150M. The AG thinks, as reflected in a letter to the businessman, that Bransford’s former position at Lands and Surveys, coupled with the good relationship that he enjoyed with the then Commissioner, Trevor Benn, are two factors that definitely aided in landing such a deal.
In the letter to Bransford, Nandlall pointed out that Benn received two valuations for the said parcels: an initial valuation of $60M and another for $13.5M. Benn, for reasons not stated, went along with the lower valuation.
Further to the fact that the land was secured for, in Guyanese parlance, ‘next to nothing’, the AG also finds outrageous, the fact that the deal was made some three weeks after the March 2020 elections.
Even further, the title issued is contrary to the provisions of the State Lands Act and is, therefore, null, void, and of no effect as Benn was not conferred with the power to sell State lands. The power remained vested with the President of Guyana.
The AG wrote, “… in the interest of avoiding the institution of legal proceedings against you…we are prepared to refund an appropriate sum of the money to you on the condition that you relinquish all purported rights, title and interest in the said parcels of land over to and in favour of the State.”
Bransford has 14 days to make contact with the Guyana Lands and Surveys to finalise the terms of the settlement. Should the businessman decide against this route, the AG has put him on notice that civil proceedings will be filed against him for compensation, cancellation of the Certificate of Title, and for possessions of the plots of land. Additionally, the documents will be transmitted to the Guyana Police Force for the commencement of criminal investigations.
