Chief Co-operatives Develop-ment Officer Kareem Abdul-Jabar has been sent on indefinite administrative leave pending a disciplinary hearing before the Public Service Commission for his role in the sale of the Lamaha Gardens property now at the centre of a dispute, a Labour Ministry official confirmed yesterday.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Stabroek News that a number of cooperative rules were violated and overlooked in the transaction, which saw the $25M sale of the Lamaha Gardens playground to a private businessman.
The property has been claimed by the Guyana Public Service Housing Cooperative, which is the successor to the Civil Service Association Housing Cooperative Society that was recognised as the owner.
Minister of Labour Nanda Gopaul would only confirm to Stabroek News yesterday that a completed report based on an investigation of the sale was submitted to President Donald Ramotar and it detailed a number of findings that were made.
The ministry had been asked to spearhead the investigation, following concerns raised by residents over the sale of Durbana Square property that has been used for decades by the community as a recreational area and a playground.
The official who spoke with this newspaper revealed that the report noted that the claim by the Chief Co-operatives Officer that there were less than seven members of the Civil Service Association Cooperative was found to be false as it was confirmed that there were more than 15 members with valid titles.
The official said the report further revealed that the bidding process for the plot of land was compromised because no one was aware of the auctioning, which took place in November last year and also that the opening of a bank account into which the money from the sale was transferred was unauthorised and constituted a serious violation of the cooperatives rules.
It was also noted that although a lawyer’s letter, dated November 20, 2012, requested that the liquidator cease and desist from the sale and to withdraw a notice published in the Guyana Chronicle, the transaction went ahead.
This newspaper was also told another process is to follow to have the land restored to the community once the hearing is over.
The 5500 sq ft property was sold on January 13, 2013. The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), which claimed to be the owner of the property, however, said it became aware of the move to sell the land in November last year, when a notice, inviting bids by November 23, 2012, was placed in the Guyana Chronicle by Liquidator Cecil Ramnarine.
The union released a cease and desist letter that its attorney Joseph Harmon had sent to Ramnarine, dated November 20, 2012, in order to prevent him from going moving ahead.
In his letter to Ramnarine, Harmon identified himself as the lawyer for the Civil Service Association Cooperative Housing Society. He noted that his clients instructed him that Ramnarine’s appointment as liquidator and his invitation for bids were done without their knowledge and consent. He inquired as to the authority for Ramnarine’s appointment as liquidator, while also asking that he cease and desist from the sale and withdraw the notice placed in the Chronicle.
The GPSU also released a copy of demand for payment of rates and taxes for 2012 that was sent to the union by the Mayor and City Council, which listed the owners as the “P.S.A Housing Cooperative” Society.
