NICIL confirms ownership of wharf leased by M&CC

In-house attorney of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Arianne McLean submitted her statement at Wednesday’s Commission of Inquiry, where it was confirmed that the Sussex Street wharf is owned by the agency.
Documents were provided, which shows that the plot of land was acquired in 2002 when the Guyana National Engineering Corporation (GNEC) vested all its assets to NICIL. Consequently, NICIL became the new lawful owner of the property.
“NICIL acquired the property by virtue of vesting order Number 13 of 2002, which dissolved GNEC and vested all of its assets to NICIL. Of those assets includes the property in question,” she explained.
The Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) was occupying the said piece of land as a tenant from 1995. When NICIL acquired the property in 2002, GNIC continued to operate with the new proprietor.
“The original owner of the property was GNEC. They leased it to GNIC by a 1995 lease. In 2002, GNEC was dissolved by a vesting order and GNEC remained the tenant.”
Over the years, a supplemental lease agreement was formalised to change sections of the lease. This would change the lease time to 25 years if the contract is renewed. The lease price was also changed.
“There was supplemental lease agreement, the purpose of which was not to extend the lease but to give the parties the option to renew the lease for 25 years. The original option was giving them the chance to renew for 15 years.”
In 2010 when the lease was finished, it was never renewed but GNIC still occupies the property. McLean indicated that this is a problem between NICIL and GNIC and it does not validate why City Hall would assume ownership for the wharf.
In April of 2016, the lease was granted by Town Clerk Royston King for the Quick Shipping Incorporated to operate at the Lot 1 Mudflat, Lombard Street property. While a letter was issued to NICIL for permission, it was insinuated that King did not submit the document to the Council for deliberations as was mandatory.
Tax Collecting Officer of the City Treasury Department, Kim Forbes had told the Commission on Monday that there are no records of payment by the shipping company for 2016 but yet the company managed to submit their receipts during their statement. In 2017 and 2018, $625,000 was paid to the Council.