It has been some time since I did one of these broadcasts. In fact, it has been almost six weeks. I became ill, very ill. For a man who boasted that he does not get sick, people could imagine the impact.
I had shivers, I felt weak; food tasted like cardboard in my mouth so that I didn’t eat for about four weeks.
I spent three days in hospital, underwent numerous tests and CT Scans and a whole regime of medical procedures. It turned out that I had contracted typhoid which I took for nothing and the infection followed.
I developed a clot in my liver and something by my pancreas. I was pumped full of antibiotics and only because some friends literally lifted me out of my house to hospital that I suppose I survived.
All is well that ends well. I lost about 25 pounds so that my daughter who raced home to ensure that I did not die said, “Me father you look horrible.” Those were the first words she said on seeing me two weeks ago.
When I returned to work a similar sentiment was expressed to me. But my appetite had returned and pretty soon I started to gain some of the weight I lost.
And while all that was happening I could not help but notice that Anil Nandlall had mounted a campaign against people perceived to be opposed to the ruling People’s Progressive Party.
He started his attack with Brian Tiwarie, a man who was once close to the PPP. Courtney Benn soon followed. And those are only two.
It was not long before Anil tried to go after the head of Cevon’s Waste Management. This was a classic case of Anil just lashing out. He told Cevon’s that it had until March 1 to break down the multi-million-dollar structure that it had erected on Mandela Avenue.
Mr. Morse Archer, who heads Cevon’s, detailed the process he underwent before he constructed anything. Then Anil changed his tune. Suddenly the land belonged to the National Sports Commission but the sports commission did not know. How did Anil know?
Anil was suddenly the poodle, according to Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde, who was chasing after those property that he perceived were given away by the coalition.
It mattered not that all the legal processes were followed. Suddenly Anil concluded that the lands were worth more than the price for which they were sold.
He has gone to court against one person whom he and his party hates. In fact, Anil and his government are doing everything to ensure that this individual gets no contract in Guyana.
And if anyone wants proof just look at the recent decision by the government to scrap a Caribbean Development Bank sea defence contract.
The bids went out and only one met the criteria. That was like putting smelling salts under the nose of a dying man. The eyes flew open and the contract was scrapped. Other contracts had been scrapped before but only after they had been awarded.
In his budget presentation on Friday, Roysdale Forde, said that there was nothing wrong with going after property that appears to have been improperly gained.
Mr. Forde said that even if the Government wants to go after lands in the interest of fairness it must do so with a balance.
As such, Mr. Forde suggested that Government be fair in its investigation of land purchased by National Hardware under the Jagdeo Government.
Forde, who give details on the sale said that “On January 12, 2010, NICIL entered into an Amendment to an Agreement of Sale and Purchase with National Hardware signed on December 28, 2009, to sell the Property measuring 103.88 acres for the consideration of $598,659,398.
The price per acre sold to National Hardware ($5.8M) was substantially less than what National Hardware had bid for a similar property (approx.. 40 acres) in January 2009 in the same Liliendaal/Pattensen area and where the highest bid received in January 2009 was $16.24M per acre.
That price had appeared inadequate by NICIL at that time. Also NICIL had received an offer of approximately $15.1M per acre for the said land when the property was advertised for Expressions of Interest in mid-2008.
On March 12, 2010, a Vesting Order # 4 of 2010 was signed by the Minister of Finance vesting the ownership from Government of Guyana via Guyana Lands and Survey Commission to NICIL.
On March 20, 2010, Vesting order # 4 of 2010 signed on March 12, 2010, by the Minister of Finance was published in the Official Gazette – Legal Supplement – B dated 20th March 2010
On March 16, 2010, NICIL wrote Edward Boyer informing him that the 103 acres of land was vested to National Hardware as per the agreement of sale and requested the payment of outstanding balance of $540,659,398.
On June 1, 2010 NICIL wrote Mr. Edward Boyer, Managing Director of National Hardware requesting the outstanding balance of $540,659,398 due since March 16, 2010 and that interest was accruing until paid.
Between October 29, 2010 and Dec 1, 2010 the balance was paid.
May 9, 2011, the transport for the property was issued to National Hardware.
In 2012, National Hardware sold Edward B. Beharry & Company Limited 16.615 acres of land for $495,085,500.
“Imagine 16.615 acres of land being sold for $495,085,500; the 16.615 acres forming part of same 100 acres which was sold for $$598,659,398 to National Hardware.”
It is surprising that Anil Nandlall has not gone after National Hardware. Perhaps it has something to do with kith and kin.
