There will no longer be any action in respect to the compulsory acquisition of two plots of land at Carmichael and Middle streets belonging to High Commissioner to Canada, Clarissa Riehl and her husband and the Beharry Group of Companies, Minister of State Joseph Harmon announced yesterday.
Harmon told reporters at yesterday’s post-Cabinet press briefing that Cabinet has instructed that the order issued in September to acquire the east quarter of Lot 92 Middle and Carmichael streets under the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act be rescinded.
“There is no question of compulsory acquisition. There will no longer be any action in respect to the acquisition of that property,” he stressed, while noting too that Attorney General (AG) Basil Williams had submitted to Cabinet a requested report explaining the situation.
Williams had earlier indicated that government could rescind the controversial order and sources had told Stabroek News that the bid to compulsorily acquire the land would not go ahead in light of the significant disquiet that it generated for the administration.
According to a notice in the Official Gazette of September 24, the order for the acquisition of the land was signed by Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson but he distanced himself from the acquisition of the land, while saying that all queries for its use should be directed to Williams.
Williams had claimed that the order was issued as part of a necessary exploratory process, however, the Private Sector Commission warned the government to proceed cautiously with the use of the law for such a process as it could have a chilling effect on investor confidence.
While Williams later said that the government had not had any negative responses from either property owner and claimed that the plan to compulsorily acquire the land was inherited from the PPP/C administration, both these assertions were challenged.
Former President Donald Ramotar and then Attorney General Anil Nandlall had called on Williams to produce the evidence to substantiate his claims. Ramotar explained that his government had approached both owners, as it sought to expand the Attorney General’s Chambers, located in the next lot, but they both informed that they were not selling and therefore he was advised to seek alternative lands.
Additionally persons close to Riehl had told this newspaper that her family was furious at what has happened and informed that a plan for the construction of a structure on the land had already been approved and the ambassador and her husband were waiting for the right time to start the construction
Williams had also said that each owner would be paid $20M for their land, a sum which Nandlall has said was not only paltry but pales in comparison to the current market value.
Subsequent to these reports Cabinet had asked the AG to prepare a report to explain the decisions. That report has since been submitted though its contents have not been shared.
