Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall says that he has no vendetta against the principal of BK International and BK Marine, Brian Tiwari, noting that consecutive legal actions brought against his two companies are justifiable.
The AG, on behalf of the State, recently slapped BK International and insurance company, North American Fire and General Insurance Company (Nafico), with an over-$700M joint lawsuit for breach of the contract for the construction of the Yarrowkabra Secondary School on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. A few weeks later, Nandlall moved to the court seeking to have the State repossess a bond occupied by BK Marine Inc.
Nandlall said that the court actions brought against BK Marine and BK International are justifiable.
In the case of the Yarrowkabra Secondary School, the official noted that the construction firm’s inability to meet contractual requirements will negatively impact the lives of children residing in that community and its environs. He added that the country can no longer look forward to the school being completed for the new academic year come September, since the completion date will obviously have to be extended. This is a blow to the country’s developmental agenda, he reasoned.
Nandlall said that BK Marine occupied the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) Water Street Bond for 12 years without paying rent. He noted that the repossession of the property is also justifiable and does not constitute a ‘vendetta’.
“This guy just moves into the government’s property, rents it at the beginning – same thing he did at the Wharf – then stops paying rent, and stays there forever. Operations continued for 12 years! The rent is a bond of GYD$600,000…A big company like that detained public property and refused to pay that peppercorn rent. And then, they say I have a vendetta against him? I am the bad one? I am representing the people of Guyana and will not sit by and watch state assets being plundered,” the AG declared.
