Former AG debunks APNU supporter on ownership of Ocean View Hotel

…confirms building in receivership, “owner” defaulted on loan payments

Despite claims from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) supporter Wilfred Rambarran that he still owns the Ocean View International Hotel which has been converted to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and is entitled to rent, former Attorney General Basil Williams himself has debunked this as untrue.

Williams finally broke his silence on the controversy on Saturday and said that the Ocean View Hotel has been in receivership since 2009, when the Guyana National Co-operative Bank (GNCB) appointed Courtney Perry as receiver to take over the management of the hotel and sell it in order to recover the debt that Rambarran defaulted on.
In fact, Williams contended that Perry is still the receiver of the property and had won a case against Rambarran. Judgement was given in the case in the High Court on March 10, 2016, by now Appeal Court Judge Rishi Persaud, who ruled that Perry’s appointment as receiver of the property was lawful and proper.
Williams, who had been on the losing end of a string of cases while representing the former APNU/AFC Government as Attorney General, went on to urge the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government to complete the compulsory acquisition of the building.
“It was further ordered by the court that the receiver recover the sum of $223,800,000 against the Ocean View Hotel, together with interest thereon at 17.5 per cent per annum from the said 10th day of March, 2016, until fully paid. Winston Rambaran has appealed to the Court of Appeal, but the appeal has not yet been heard. There was no stay of execution nor any cross-appeal by GNCB,” Williams said.

Secret deal
“In light of the foregoing, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic reflecting increased deaths and a surge in positive cases, it is incumbent that the PPP/C Government secures the acquisition of the Ocean View Hotel Limited in furtherance of combatting the COVID-19 pandemic,” the former Attorney General added in his statement.
The former APNU/AFC Government had sought to transform the flood-prone Ocean View hotel into a facility to house COVID-19 patients. However, it faced much criticisms, due to the over $1 billion price tag and the fact that the Government was in caretaker mode.
Also, the details surrounding the deal were kept secret from the public, with no one knowing for sure whether the building was being rented or what arrangement had been struck with the Ocean View “owner”. After spending over a billion in taxpayers’ money on works on the building, the former Administration eventually issued a Notice of Compulsory Acquisition of the Hotel.
But after the PPP took office, Rambarran abruptly sent new Attorney General Anil Nandlall a lawyer’s letter, threatening legal action against the new Government if millions of dollars owed as rent for the property was not paid within 14 days.
In his letter, Rambarran contended that the Granger-led caretaker Administration had initially agreed to pay some $13 million per month to use the facility for a period of 12 months. Rambarran had claimed that he still owned the building.
Rambarran, who is a known APNU/AFC associate, claimed that though the previous Government issued a Notice of Compulsory Acquisition for the former Ocean View Hotel, he believed it is of no effect because compensation has not been discussed or paid. The letter, dated August 6, was sent to Nandlall and Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony, by Rambarran’s attorney, R Satram.
For his part, Nandlall had said that his Government was actively considering the letter. He had told this publication that a request had been made for the controversial project to be examined by the special team of financial analysts that was assembled by President Dr Irfaan Ali to assess nineteen State agencies.
“…because certainly, from all indications, hundreds of millions of dollars were drawn from the consolidated fund for a capital project without parliamentary approval. That is a clear violation of the Constitution of Guyana and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act,” the Attorney General had explained.
“A deeper probe must also be embarked upon to enquire whether the monies so expended do not also amount to criminal offences including misconduct in public office,” he had also posited. According to Nandlall, these revelations are mind-boggling when one considers the large sums spent and the limited value for money.
“$1.6 billion was apparently spent on a property that is not even owned by the Government, according to the letter. This must amount to criminal conduct. The nation was led to believe that this was State asset. Now it is being revealed that it is apparently private property. Imagine spending $1.6 billion to build a property that is not owned by you!” the Attorney General had asserted.