Member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and attorney James Bond, former acting Chief Executive Officer of NICIL Colvin Heath-London, businessman Eddie Doolal and Jermaine Richmond were this morning charged for the giveaway of State lands at Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
The four men were called before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and they were not required to plead to three conspiracy to defraud charges.
It is alleged that between August 1, 2017 and November 30, 2020, at Georgetown, Bond, Heath-London and Doolal conspired with others to defraud the National Industrial and Commercial Investment Limited (NICIL) and its sole shareholder, the Government of Guyana, of property interest in land, namely the Grant of Lease of Lands known as plot A7, A8, A20 Plantation Peters Hall, E.B.D., owned by NICIL, without the necessary board and Cabinet approval to do same and for purposes other than that of NICIL.
It is also alleged that between August 1, 2017 and November 30, 2020, at Georgetown, Heath-London and Bond conspired with others to defraud NICIL and its sole shareholder, the Government of Guyana of property interest in land, namely the Grant of Lease of Lands known as plot A17, A18, A19 Plantation Peters Hall, E.B.D., owned by NICIL without the necessary board and Cabinet approval to do same and for purposes other than that of NICIL.
Thirdly, it is allged that between August 1, 2017 and November 30, 2020, at Georgetown, Heath-London, Bond and Richmond conspired with others to defraud NICIL and its sole shareholder, the Government of Guyana of property interest in land, namely the Grant of Lease of Lands known as plot A1, A2, A3 and A4 Plantation Peters Hall, E.B.D., owned by NICIL without the necessary board and Cabinet approval to do same and for purposes other than that of NICIL.
The accused were represented by attorneys-at-law Darren Wade, Nigel Hughes and Sateysh Kissoon.
Bond was placed on $150,000 bail, $50,000 for each charge. While the remaining trio were placed on $100,000 bail, each. The matter was adjourned until April 19.
Guyana Standard understands that an investigation into the land ‘giveaway’ commenced after the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration came into power, in August 2020. Following the investigation, Bond and Heath-London were arrested late last year and accused of ‘flipping’ state lands and benefitting from a multimillion-dollar pay-out.
About a month prior to the arrest, Heath-London was terminated from NICIL as the government cited serious failures on his part regarding protecting the interest of the State as it relates to the issuance of land leases.
