Two weeks after the Beterverwagting (BV)/Triumph Neighbourhood Demo-cratic Council (NDC) informed that it was moving to repay John Fernandes Limited (JFL) the $20m deposit it had lodged for 143 acres of land in the backlands of BV, its Chairman Jimmaul Bagot yesterday resigned from his post citing personal reasons.
“Yes I did, today…for personal reasons that is all,” he told Stabroek News when contacted.
Sources close to Bagot said that he was being verbally attacked by persons in the village over the aborted deal and that “it was too much”.
The Chairman had come in for criticism following a report in this newspaper that the council had last year entered into a deal with John Fernandes Limited where it would purchase 143 acres of land for a paltry $35 million.
Details of the $35m deal had only come to light when the agreement was leaked, according to Councillor Elton McRae, one of the nearly 100 Beterverwagting residents who own part of the lands.
According to the terms of the agreement, JFL was supposed to pay the NDC $20 million on signing the agreement and the remainder when the transport was passed.
Following the controversy, JFL inform-ed that it would not be seeking the lands anymore.
However, this newspaper reported last month that following correspondence from an entity which claimed that it had been authorised to take over all rights from JFL, regarding the collapsed $35m deal, the BV/ Triumph NDC had written to JFL seeking a meeting to thrash out the issue.
Bagot had confirmed that the Council had dispatched the letter to JFL, even as he informed that the NDC was disregarding any correspondence from the mystery company – Mohamed’s Sons and Daughters Trading (MSDT).
“In response to your letter dated 15/05/2022 to John Fernandes Limited of 24 Water Street, Georgetown in regards to an Agreement of Sales with John Fernandes for Section “G” Beterverwag-ting, please be informed that John Fernandes Ltd is in the process of signing over all their rights and interest to Mohamed’s Sons and Daughters Trading, Mining, Logging and Construction Inc., by way of Deed of Assignment,” a letter signed by MSDT Company Secretary, Rhonda G Chatterpaul, to the NDC stated on May 24 this year.
“Soon as the document becomes available, I will make a certified copy available for the Beterverwagting /Triumph NDC and from thereon the company which the agreement is assigned will address the NDC in relation to the matter,” the letter added.
Documents also stated that on the 13th of June, the company got the Deed of Assignment referred to, which it said was entered into on the 24th of May 2022.
The company listed its Managing Director as Mohan Mohamed Johnson and its address as Lot 61 Fourth Street, Cummings Lodge, in Greater George-town. It also listed a mobile number but repeated calls to that number by Stabroek News went to voicemail.
And when Stabroek News visited the address given, neighbours informed that the dilapidated wooden cottage on the lands, covered in grass and small trees, was abandoned a long time ago and no one lived there.
John Fernandes this month issued a public notification that it was no longer interested in or associated with the deal and distanced itself from any agreements.
