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FM
Former Member

Produce evidence Ed Ahmad lease was canceled in 2009 – Harmon tells Jagdeo

December 15, 2015 | By | Filed Under News 

… lease was officially cancelled on December 1, 2015

By Jarryl Bryan
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon has rapped former President Bharrat Jagdeo over his comments that the

 Minister of State Joseph Harmon

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

controversial Edul Ahmad land lease was revoked in 2009. Harmon said that Government has no record of this claim. He therefore called on Jagdeo to bring the evidence.
Harmon made this charge yesterday. He made it clear that contrary to Jagdeo’s claims that the lease was terminated back in 2009, the Guyana Lands and Survey Authority could attest to the lease never being terminated, until recently.
“The lease (was) not terminated (in 2009),” Harmon asserted, in response to Jagdeo’s defense. “So if Jagdeo is saying that it is misleading, let him produce the evidence.”
Harmon pointed out that Jagdeo, in his response, never denied that the lease was prepared for Ed Ahmad in seven days. The Minister also observed that while Jagdeo is yet to produce documents showing that the lease is terminated, Government has already produced the lease itself.
“And I have a firm report from the (Guyana) Lands and Surveys Commission that the lease was never terminated,” Harmon stated. “In fact, I have asked Lands and Surveys to demand arrears payments from the (Ed Ahmad) company, from 2009 to 2015.”
Harmon noted that the lease has only been formally terminated, as of December 1, 2015.
The PPP had been stridently denying the claims that its administration engaged in corrupt practices while in office.
So on Thursday last, Harmon had revealed that Jagdeo, while President, and his government secretly approved a lease of prime property near the army headquarters in Thomas Lands, and gifted it to his embattled

Former Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo

Former Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo

friend, Edul Ahmad.
The 2008 transaction was completed in just seven days from the time Ahmad made his application to the time he received his lease, which also gave him the option to buy. On May 22, 2008, Ahmad through a company called Generation Complex Inc. applied for the land—about 2.311 acres at Plantation Thomas Lands (the corner of Thomas and J.B Singh roads, south of Camp Ayanganna.
It was approved and a cadastral survey was executed by May 29- five days later. It was registered that same day, with Ahmad signing the lease on May 30.
Months after the deal was signed, the PPP/C government engaged in a legal battle with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) for the lands. The union had insisted it had control of the land. To this day, the matter is still in the High Court.
At a press conference at the GPSU Headquarters yesterday, First Vice President of the Union, Mortimer Livan, was asked to comment on the imbroglio. Livan recalled that the land was occupied by the Union since the 1970’s, but due to financial constraints they could not rehabilitate it then. He said that the rates and taxes were nevertheless being paid.
“But in 2009 we decided that we would rehabilitate the place,” Livan related. “While we started and tried to put down the post of the fence, the police came and told us (that) we have to stop, that it’s private land (and) we cannot do that.”
Livan also noted that when the police came to tell them that, they came with guns. He said that the union

To be sentenced in February, Edul Ahmad

To be sentenced in February, Edul Ahmad

members were forced to back off. He went on to state that while they were subsequently told it was Government land, signs were put up proclaiming it to be private property.
“And we learned, since then, that it was land given to Ed Ahmad. And what surprised us then, it took one week for the survey to be completed,” Livan said. “What is very interesting is when you go and survey your land; you need to inform your neighbours what is happening. They never did that.”
All through this time, the then PPP/C Government never disclosed that it had leased the lands to Ahmad, who promised to sink US$75M to develop a hotel, complete with restaurant, bar, a casino, club, and trade exhibition hall.
Ahmad was also bound to submit a business plan a month after he signed the lease- on May 30, 2008. The lease had provided for Ahmad to buy the land for just about $50M, once he had spent about US$30M of the US$75M investment he committed to.
However, Government also revealed on Thursday that Ahmad has lapsed in his lease payments of $500,000 annually. As a matter of fact, the New York-based real estate magnate, who is to be sentenced in a New York court in February, only made one payment. This is in direct breach of his lease.
Government has already taken back the land from Ahmad, using clauses in the 99-year lease agreement that have to do with the annual rents. As a matter of fact, the lease was discussed last Tuesday by the Cabinet, along with the applications which showed the high interest and the speed in which it was processed.
Meanwhile, Livan was asked whether the case was still engaging the attention of the courts. He stated that it is. He also expressed appreciation at the recent statements made by the Government that the deal would be rescinded and the land given back to be used as it should, recreational purposes.
He noted that rehabilitation works, including fencing and renovations to the building could start soon. He also noted that since the new administration came into power, the union has been pushing for the land to be returned.

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The only thing that I can deduct from this is that if Jagdeo is correct and the lease with Ahmad was known by Jagdeo to have been terminated, then Jagdeo was keeping quiet about it in order to lay his own hands on the land.

Mr.T
warrior posted:
skeldon_man posted:

Harmon tief de evidence and burn ham

shit head go hunt your wild cabbage 

Me nah eat dem kaka eatah; you eat dem. Me Corentyne famlee sell dem to you famlee up town side.

FM

Exactly as I said in the other thread on this subject.

BJ did fk all, he was probably hanging onto that property either for himself or he would have slid it down the lef han side to that same buddy of his, Ed...all this with just one month's payment, hehehe

cain

This is a red herring by Harmon. How is Jagdeo supposed to provide proof? Is he expected to have government documents in his possession? What is needed to prove this? Or does Harmon think we are stupid enough to not wonder about this.

Z
Zed posted:

This is a red herring by Harmon. How is Jagdeo supposed to provide proof? Is he expected to have government documents in his possession? What is needed to prove this? Or does Harmon think we are stupid enough to not wonder about this.

he can go to the ministry of lands and get the records 

FM
Billy Ram Balgobin posted:

Harmon doing his own underhand deals while making a fuss about the former government's deal with businessmen.

stop talking and acting like a ass do not make your feelings rule  your brain 

FM
Zed posted:

This is a red herring by Harmon. How is Jagdeo supposed to provide proof? Is he expected to have government documents in his possession? What is needed to prove this? Or does Harmon think we are stupid enough to not wonder about this.

Jagdeo open his mouth. Now let him put the money where his mouth is. This is no Kwame lolo he sucking.

Mr.T
Zed posted:

This is a red herring by Harmon. How is Jagdeo supposed to provide proof? Is he expected to have government documents in his possession? What is needed to prove this? Or does Harmon think we are stupid enough to not wonder about this.

Who was the lawyer representing your fambly Ed in this transaction?

Mitwah
Mr.T posted:
Zed posted:

This is a red herring by Harmon. How is Jagdeo supposed to provide proof? Is he expected to have government documents in his possession? What is needed to prove this? Or does Harmon think we are stupid enough to not wonder about this.

Jagdeo open his mouth. Now let him put the money where his mouth is. This is no Kwame lolo he sucking.

Lolo Boy, If he is not sucking Kwame lolo as you know, then he is sucking your lolo. Leh de man tek he time wid you , you hear.

FM
Last edited by Former Member
skeldon_man posted:
Mr.T posted:
Zed posted:

This is a red herring by Harmon. How is Jagdeo supposed to provide proof? Is he expected to have government documents in his possession? What is needed to prove this? Or does Harmon think we are stupid enough to not wonder about this.

Jagdeo open his mouth. Now let him put the money where his mouth is. This is no Kwame lolo he sucking.

Lolo Boy, If he is not sucking Kwame lolo as you know, then he is sucking your lolo. Leh de man tek he time wid you , you hear.

You do not have to fear that your job is under threat.

Mr.T

How the heck did we get from a discussion of providing evidence to comments about lolo boy, etc? Is this indicative of the lack of intellectual acumen to sensibly discuss some issue, or a definition of  how Guyanese and those Guyanese who migrated discourse matters. 

Nothing was ever built on the land even when Ed Ahmad had money so the lease was not exercised. The city Council was also involved in the planning stages. The lease might have been fast tracked and it might have been Jagdeo's friend, but nothing came of it. 

Mitts, thanks for letting me know I am related to Ed Ahmad. Please do not tell me I am related to you too. I might die of shock. My heart is not that strong. 

Z
Zed posted:

How the heck did we get from a discussion of providing evidence to comments about lolo boy, etc? Is this indicative of the lack of intellectual acumen to sensibly discuss some issue, or a definition of  how Guyanese and those Guyanese who migrated discourse matters. 

Nothing was ever built on the land even when Ed Ahmad had money so the lease was not exercised. The city Council was also involved in the planning stages. The lease might have been fast tracked and it might have been Jagdeo's friend, but nothing came of it. 

Mitts, thanks for letting me know I am related to Ed Ahmad. Please do not tell me I am related to you too. I might die of shock. My heart is not that strong. 

The land was leased to Ahmad for mere pennies in comparison to its true value. It does not matter if he built on it or not. Stop making stupid excuses for those crooks.

Mars
Mr.T posted:

The only thing that I can deduct from this is that if Jagdeo is correct and the lease with Ahmad was known by Jagdeo to have been terminated, then Jagdeo was keeping quiet about it in order to lay his own hands on the land.

You really slow.  BJ allowing them to run down ever empty rabbit hole till they rass get giddy.  Why does he need to tell them anything, let them chase their own tails till they get eye turn!

FM
Mars posted:
Zed posted:

How the heck did we get from a discussion of providing evidence to comments about lolo boy, etc? Is this indicative of the lack of intellectual acumen to sensibly discuss some issue, or a definition of  how Guyanese and those Guyanese who migrated discourse matters. 

Nothing was ever built on the land even when Ed Ahmad had money so the lease was not exercised. The city Council was also involved in the planning stages. The lease might have been fast tracked and it might have been Jagdeo's friend, but nothing came of it. 

Mitts, thanks for letting me know I am related to Ed Ahmad. Please do not tell me I am related to you too. I might die of shock. My heart is not that strong. 

The land was leased to Ahmad for mere pennies in comparison to its true value. It does not matter if he built on it or not. Stop making stupid excuses for those crooks.

The only crooks are those liars and cons who fooled the masses to scrape by an election on May 11.

FM
baseman posted:
Mars posted:
Zed posted:

How the heck did we get from a discussion of providing evidence to comments about lolo boy, etc? Is this indicative of the lack of intellectual acumen to sensibly discuss some issue, or a definition of  how Guyanese and those Guyanese who migrated discourse matters. 

Nothing was ever built on the land even when Ed Ahmad had money so the lease was not exercised. The city Council was also involved in the planning stages. The lease might have been fast tracked and it might have been Jagdeo's friend, but nothing came of it. 

Mitts, thanks for letting me know I am related to Ed Ahmad. Please do not tell me I am related to you too. I might die of shock. My heart is not that strong. 

The land was leased to Ahmad for mere pennies in comparison to its true value. It does not matter if he built on it or not. Stop making stupid excuses for those crooks.

The only crooks are those liars and cons who fooled the masses to scrape by an election on May 11.

The biggest crooks were kicked out on election day because they tief too much. Deal with it.

Mars
Last edited by Mars
Zed posted:

This is a red herring by Harmon. How is Jagdeo supposed to provide proof? Is he expected to have government documents in his possession? What is needed to prove this? Or does Harmon think we are stupid enough to not wonder about this.

Zed, you seem quite intelligent.... until this. Is wuh goin on banna?

Look yeh, Iman pick up some groceries yesterday,I probably still got the receipt. When a man makes a land deal,there has to be proof.

Unless you're saying Jagdeo made so many underhand deals,it became the norm...I'll say, ok I accept that.

cain
Last edited by cain

There is no question in my mind that Jagdeo and his friends played fast and loose with state assets. I hope that there is sound evidence of this and the government act first to recover state assets and second to prosecute all those responsible. What I have difficulty with is these bits and pieces that might not stand up in court, that is just becoming a public relations exercise for the coalition. 

Look, many things get "ducked" in Guyana. Remember all the court jackets that went missing. The head of the survey department is related through marriage to Nokta. Things get ducked there too. The government should present the clear chain of evidence. Yes, the survey procedure and approval was fast tracked and the lease amount was not much, considering the value of the land. Ed Ahmad is or was Jagdeo' friend.  However, this by itself does not prove corruption. In Canada,  the USA, etc, many development activities are fast tracked with concessions given to the business entity.  Many business men have close relations with politicians. It is obvious that the land is not occupied. Why? His legal troubles came later, I think. How did Jagdeo influence the process? Was the process followed? Did jagdeo  receive benefits from the deal? Who called whom to subvert the normal,process?  It is up to the government to prove the crime and for me they have not done so as yet over this issue. Much of politics is about perception and what we are seeing here is the continuing exercise in shaping perception. 

Z

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