Region Four Chairman Clement Corlette says that Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority, Mryna Pitt has not yet responded to his letter seeking information on the works at ‘Pradoville 2,’ which he charges could be in violation of regulations.
In a letter to Pitt, dated April 14, Corlette said that buildings at ‘Pradoville 2,’ where President Bharrat Jagdeo and top government officials are building houses, may be in violation of several regulations as permission was not sought from the local authorities, building plans were never submitted nor were they certified by the Environmental Health Officer. He had sought answers on the development and in his letter, which was seen by Stabroek News, he noted that at a Region Four Administrative Committee meeting on April 12, the Chairman of the Industry/ Plaisance Neighbourhood Democratic Council Clinton Rollox was unable to account for the extensive work underway at the development.
Contacted yesterday, Corlette said that he has not yet received a response and if none is forthcoming by the end of this week, he will write to remind the CEO. Stabroek News also contacted Pitt’s office but was told that she was in a meeting. The secretary recorded a number to return a call but this was not done yesterday. Pitt has in the past not responded to Stabroek News enquiries about Pradoville 2.
Corlette said he is not aware of any action that can be taken at the level of the Region to make the builders comply with the regulations. “There isn’t much we can do. We are hoping the CHPA can do what is right,” he said.
The exclusive housing development at Sparendaam North, in proximity to the sea defence structure, has been under scrutiny with several members of society accusing the officials building homes there of elitism, in view of the “special” treatment afforded to the development.
The housing development is on the land where NCN’s radio transmitter was once sited. The transmitter has been relocated to the West Bank Demerara. Since construction began last year, questions have been raised about whether the land was advertised publicly and how it was allocated and valued, among others.
In his letter, Corlette said that “something seems unusual” about the development and he called upon Pitt to assist with the due regularisation of the situation. He pointed out that Rollox admitted that erections were under construction but he reported that the Local Authority was never approached for permission to build; that no building plans were submitted to the Local Planning Authority and the Environmental Health Officer had not seen and or certified/recommended building plan/s for the buildings now under construction.
“According to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council Chairman, he and his council have not seen any document that establishes proof of ownership of the land, as such the council is unable to determine to what extent the construction being undertaken is of individual or corporate enterprise,” Corlette said. As a result of Rollox’s account, he suggested that that the authority for creation of structures referred to are in doubt “and may be in violation of the regulations of the Central Board of Health and the Central Housing and Planning Authority since the Local Planning Authority is unaware of the proof of ownership of the land by whomsoever maybe engaged in the erection of structures individually or collectively.”
Corlette asked that information be provided to him as proof that transport, title, or lease exists for the land to each of the occupiers of the land whomsoever they may be. He also asked for information that a second certificate or land use clearance has been obtained for the land to be used for residential development by the Central Board of Health.
He also requested proof that a cadastral plan exists to show the layout for each house lot, location of roads, drains, green space and community ground or plot for public building/s. He also asked whether a potable water distribution network is provided for and structured erection of electricity poles and supply network. Further, he asked for information on the total quantified house lots available and how much remain unoccupied or uncommitted as well as information on authorization to build for each construction now underway.
Corlette noted that it has been alleged that prominent Guyana government officials are identified with the erection of structures at the site. He said that it is further alleged that Jagdeo, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud are among those “suspected to have a strong interest or possible ownership of the land or portions of land within the area.”
