Kaieteur News’ publication of aerial photographs of former president Bharrat Jagdeo’s ‘Pradoville 2’ estate has been dubbed a serious breach of security, the Government Information (GINA) said last evening, while quoting a senior police official.
The police official, who was not named, was referring to the photographs that accompanied an article in yesterday’s Kaieteur News, ‘Jagdeo acquired more wealth in office than any other Guyanese President – AFC Chairman.’ The article reported on a televised debate on NCN on Sunday, in which AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes questioned the propriety of Jagdeo’s real estate acquisitions while in office, including the acquisition of the ‘Pradoville 2’ property at below market prices.
According to GINA, the official said that despite the freedom of the local press, the newspaper should have been cognisant of the fact that such photographs could serve to embolden those who have ulterior motives. As a former Head of State, Jagdeo, it was noted, should be afforded the respect that comes with the office and the security implications arising from such an esteemed position.
“The decision to publish the photographs which indicate the lay of the land of the compound is a security breach,” GINA further reported the official as saying. “Dignitaries and other high officials are protected by the state and such actions can be compromised by those who claim to act in the name of press freedom.”
The police officer is also quoted as saying that the publication of the photographs should be condemned and the possibility of legal sanctions should be considered, as well as sanctions against those that aided in the actions.
Meanwhile, Captain Gerry Gouveia, a member of the National Commission on Law and Order (NCLO), condemned the publication of the photographs.
“It virtually compromises our former President’s personal security, because what you are actually doing there is exposing the perimeters of his personal residence to all kinds of reconnaissance and scrutiny,” he told GINA.
“I think it was done in very bad faith, actually. So while there is nothing illegal about taking photographs from the air, I believe that what is needed more is the whole concept of moral suasion and good sense and decency by a news agency to respect the privacy and security of our former President,” he added.
During Sunday’s debate, Hughes repeated the AFC’s concern over the uncapped benefits available to former heads of state under the Former President’s (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act as well as Jagdeo’s acquisition of the property.
“Why can’t the former President acquire lands at market prices?” he said, while noting that there was no where that prime ocean-front real estate could be acquired for $5 million an acre. “Offer me an acre of beach front property for $5 million per acre,” he said. “This is state lands acquired by the government and distributed to the president and his friends,” Hughes charged.
Jagdeo’s acquisition of the property along the sea wall raised numerous questions about how these lots were allocated and the cost for them.
Office of the President, Hughes contended, was opening up itself to the allegation that it has been influenced by the purchaser of Jagdeo’s first property in Pradoville 1. The house was sold for US$600,000. “We cannot allow people who become President to expect that the State will maintain their palaces,” said Hughes.
Attorney General Anil Nandlall took offence at Hughes’ repeated description of the property as a palace and said that Jagdeo’s house is none of Hughes’ business unless he could prove that taxpayers’ money was used to finance it. Said Nandlall, “I did the transaction…I negotiated the transaction. I visited the house. And [this notion] that the president embarked on a conquest [to enrich himself at the expense of the state] must be wholly rejected.”
Labour Minister Nanda Gopaul, who was also part of the debate panel, said that Jagdeo has submitted all of his documentation to the Integrity Commission with regard to the acquisition of the properties that he owned. “Let us all tender documents to the Integrity Commission and you will see who is found wanting,” said Gopaul.
Gopaul also said that the prices paid are consistent with the government’s rates and said it is most unfair to say that the president enriched himself through the acquisition of the land.
Hughes wanted to know where the land was advertised for sale prior to the former President’s acquiring it. To this, Gopaul retorted that former Regional Chairman of Region 10 Mortimer Mingo knew of the land’s availability and had attempted to make a purchase. Mingo had been approached directly by the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon about the land.
