Complaints, lies prompted disclaimer notice – CH&PA CEO

Housing developer saga

Complaints from members of the public about developer Robert Forrester, who the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) issued a notice severing ties with, prompted this course of action.
This admission was made on Tuesday by the authority’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lelon Saul, in an interview following the announcement of the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme. He revealed that Forrester, the Chairman of Icarus Construction and Development INC, was moonlighting as a CH&PA agent.
“It was so because apparently, from information received, the individual was telling people he’s working for us,” the CEO explained. “He’s not working for us. He is not an agent of CH&PA and that is why we put that notice in the newspaper.”
“Because we have received complaints that seemed to suggest that he was saying

he’s an agent of CH&PA,” Saul also added. When asked if there are other cases of persons pretending to work for the Authority, he replied in the negative.
According to a notice in the daily newspapers, CH&PA informed the public that Forrester was not authorised to transact any business on behalf of the agency. The notice added that this was by order of management.
It was only in August that an announcement was made of a partnership between Forrester’s firm, the Communities Ministry and the New Amsterdam Municipal Council to construct a model village at Savannah Park.
It was noted that the US$3 million initiative, the first for New Amsterdam, would have all the basic amenities and 60 housing units that would cater for low, middle and high-income earners.
It was pointed out in the report that only limited spots would be available, as only a specific number could be accommodated; that successful applicants would be screened; and that the requisite documents would be cleared with the relevant lending institutions before applicants would be allocated lots. And like CH&PA’s regular house lots, these homeowners would have a specific time in which they must build.
In an interview at the time with the media, Forrester had revealed plans for a

Police outpost to be erected, in addition to commercial spaces, green areas, and a mall that would have all essential services.
However, following the publication of the notice on Sunday, sources at the CH&PA indicated that Forrester was charged back in September of 2014 with converting to his own use $1.5 million given to him to purchase a house lot. He was subsequently granted bail in the amount of $150,000. It is unclear what came out of the matter. The source noted that the CH&PA has been receiving a high number of complaints from members of the public about Forrester’s alleged financial improprieties.
Guyana Times understands that these complaints have been made for some time now, but a senior CH&PA official had managed to keep them under wraps since the two share a long friendship.