Private Sector cautions Govt against acquiring private lands

…says such actions dampen investor confidence

One day after Attorney General, Basil Williams, attempted to quell the brouhaha over Government’s purported intentions to acquire two plots of land for the purpose of expanding the Legal Affairs Ministry, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has cautioned the administration over its action, saying such moves could have negative impacts on investor confidence locally.
Attorney General Williams on Thursday distributed a missive to journalists covering the resumption of the Parliamentary sessions, which sought to deny that there has been any compulsory acquisition of the lands at Middle and Carmichael Streets, Georgetown.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams
Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams

The two plots of land at the centre of the brouhaha belong to Guyana’s High Commissioner to Canada, Clarissa Riehl and the other belongs to the Beharry Group of Companies.
News of the acquisition of the property was published in the Official Gazette at the end of September and was signed by Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson.
The Official Gazette of 24 September identified the property as the east quarter of Lot 92 Middle and Carmichael Streets.
The property was said to be earmarked by the State for the proposed construction of Government buildings.
Attorney General Williams, during a media briefing last week Friday, suggested that “the nation should know that when we [APNU/AFC] entered Government, I inherited that proposal by the PPP to acquire those said lots.”
Williams on Thursday last however contended that there has been no compulsory acquisition of the land and any such would have had to be done with the full knowledge of the property owners.
The Private Sector Commission, in voicing its concerns, said it takes note of the government’s intention to exercise their right under the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act to acquire private lands for public use.
“Such moves by any government are always viewed with a high level of scepticism and reservation by investors globally,” remarked the PSC, which sought to reiterate that “whilst such acts may be legal, they dampen investor confidence as they deem their right to own property to be insecure, and their investments to be under threat.”
The PSC has since called on Government “to be very cautious when invoking their right to acquire private property for public use and to ensure that adequate transparency, thought, public consultations and justifications are made to avoid unnecessary controversy when such decisions are taken.”
The PSC, in drawing direct reference to the Riehl and Beharry properties, said it “wishes to highlight to the President and the Cabinet that the current transaction being pursued has caused many owners of private property to be in a state of trepidation… The Government needs to clarify their policy and position on this matter.”
Williams in his missive the previous day had, cited the Principal law in question, namely the Acquisition for Public Purposes (Amendment) Act 2001, which provides for, among other things, that, “it shall be lawful under this Act to acquire land for the proposed construction of public work for a public purpose whether or not there is any building or erection on such land.”