M&CC requests status of leases from all leasees

In light of the discovery that many lease agreements issued to private citizens are either unutilised or expired, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has requested all lease holders to claim the status of these properties.
The Council stated that this procedure is viewed as an important step to ensure accountability and should be carried out in an urgent manner. Adding to that, some lands which were owned by the local organ body are now managed by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission.
Both the GLSC and the M&CC are expected to meet, where the status of properties within Georgetown will be addressed.
Just last year, the Commission of Inquiry into City Hall’s operation showed that former Town Clerk, Royston King leased lands to a private company, which the Council did not have jurisdiction over.
The report concluded that King leased lands to Quick Shipping Incorporated at Lombard Street, which were owned by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). Throughout that time, the company argued payments of $625,000 were made on three occasions but there were only receipts at the Council for two disbursements.
While many stakeholders had testified before the Commission, King was subpoenaed and posited that he was “unaware” or couldn’t “recall” most of the incidents.
NICIL provided statements to the Commission which positioned that they acquired the property in 2002.
The Guyana National Engineering Corporation (GNEC) would have vested all of its assets to NICIL and they became the lawful owner. However, King leased the land to a shipping company where “questionable” payments were made.
Prior to his dismissal in January, King appeared before the Local Government Commission to answer to the findings of the report and was also requested to present dialogue on other matters. However, his refusal to discuss the impeachments which were brought against him triggered a decision on the part of the Commission to dismiss him with immediate effect.
King was sent on administrative leave on September 21, 2018, where he was never reinstated to perform his duties.