Police called in to probe illegal sale/rental of State lands by NDC – AG

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall on Tuesday disclosed that the police have been notified of the alleged illegal sale and rental of State lands by the Buxton/Foulis Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

During his weekly programme “Issues in the News”, he noted that the police report was made by residents of the NDC.

“Hope fully an investigation will be commenced. I am hoping that the Guyana Police Force can move swiftly and we can use this to set an example,” Nandlall said.

The AG reminded that this issue is not new.

“We have made it clear already that any Local Authority that sells State lands, those who are the authors of that sale in that Local Authority will have to face the full force of the law,” he emphasised.

The Local Authority Areas (LAAs) which include NDCs and municipalities are governed by the Ministry of Local Government.

Nandlall previously stated that the government has received reports that some of the LAAs have been selling State lands. He noted that warning letters were sent to them from the Ministry of Local Government but the issue still persists.

“NDCs have no power to rent or sell lands within their NDCs – State lands, government lands, public lands, reserved lands, within their NDCS without the consent or permission of their Minister. These persons are elected to the NDCs, nobody elected them to sell public property,” Nandlall had previously contended.