Prime Minister Sam Hinds yesterday circulated in the National Assembly information gleaned from the Lands and Surveys Commission which revealed that state lands were granted to two PNC members—former first lady Viola Burnham and former prime minister Ptolemy Reid.
According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), the information was provided by Manager of the Land Administration Division of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, E Monize.
GINA noted that opposition MP Carl Greenidge had posed a question to Hinds asking that he provide the House with “a list of all the transactions involving the granting to former presidents or prime ministers whilst they were still in office, title to state lands and properties.” For each transaction, GINA said, Greenidge requested the price per acre, the total cost, the size of the plot and other terms and conditions.
Hinds in responding stated that he had requested the GLSC which records all transactions involving state land, to research the information. The results of the research which were presented revealed that Viola Burnham received two plots at rear of Botanic Gardens and rear of Lands and Surveys backlands of Stabroek; Reid received two plots in Somerset and Berks, Region Two.
The Prime Minister pointed out that with respect to the land originally leased to Mrs Burnham, subsequent negotiations led to a settlement in which four acres were granted at no charge on the release of any and all other rights to the remaining land, GINA said.
