Dear Editor,
Over the last days, I have been following all commentaries regarding the disgraceful and shameful revelations involving senior officials at Central Housing and Planning Authority, including allegations leveled against Minister Susan Rodrigues regarding her accumulation of wealth, just under five years. First to begin with, the despicable behavior portrayed by Ms. Rodrigues was unbecoming and should not be acceptable. This behaviour warrants a public condemnation and demand for her to resign from public office.
Her statement regarding to what was allegedly exposed by one, Ms. Melissa Atwell via social medial was ominous and distasteful! However, I can understand the nature of her behavior since Messer’s Jagdeo and Ali are no different. Guyanese have been exposed to their vile behaviours, arrogance and ignorance displayed by some members of the PPPc.
Therefore, rather than demanding Ms. Rodrigues to tender her resignation, to allow for a fair and impartial investigation of these allegations against her; both Ali and Jagdeo ran out to protect her and Mr. Sherwyn Greaves, former Chief Executive Officer of Central Housing and Planning Authority. Is this what a democratic society should normalised? Are they separate laws for the haves and the haves not? Our country has deteriorated to the bottomless pit under a regime, whose interest is not to deal with CORRUPTION AND CORRUPTERS head on.
These allegations have caused Guyana a “national embarrassment!” It must be of concern to all Guyanese how these revelations are currently handled by Mr. Ali, who has a responsibility of holding his Ministers accountable! His initial reaction, just cannot be a mere excuse that “Government is following the housing policy.” When he has full knowledge of NO such document, under a pre-May 2015 PPPc government; nor post- August 2020 PPPc government. This, very Ifraan Ali who only finds his voice in time like these; served as housing minister from 2006 to May 2015; and is fully knowledgeable of how swathes of lands were issued and sold to their friends, families, favorites, and flatters, at peanut prices for acreage.
The PPP/C has caused the Central Housing and Planning Authority to strayed away from its CORE mandate; which is “to provide housing for working class Guyanese…” Rather, they have converted this Authority into a major commercial entity, where friends of the PPPc can purchased lands at reasonable prices, hold them for years; then sell them off for millions, bleeding the pockets of vulnerable and ordinary Guyanese, who are struggling to access lands timely from the Authority to build their dream house, leaving a legacy for generations.
At his usual one man ‘Press Conference’ on Thursday, February 6, 2025; Mr. Jagdeo in his failed efforts. attempt to castigate and blame others and the Coalition Government for approving and allocating lands to Guyanese; without removing the blinkers from his eyes; and say to Guyanese how he surreptitiously benefitted from two (2) acres of lands (amounting to approximately ten house lots), after disposing of his initial Pardoville land, less than ten years, while serving as President.
Editor, it is timely that I remind Guyanese of an audit, which was conducted on the Central Housing and Planning Authority by the Coalition Government and the report was submitted in May 2017. When one examines section 3.3 of the report, pages 10-11, under the captioned, “significant commercial and financial transactions”, it further revealed at 3.3.1, ‘Private Developers,’ how acres of lands were allocated to friends of the PPP/C, and the costs associated with each purchased.
I hereby provide the attached for ease of reference. What was shocking, days before the May 11, 2015, GRE and after GRE 2015; just before the Coalition took Government on May 16, 2015; under the watchful eyes of then Minister of Housing, Mr. Ifraan Ali deals were sealed with closed allies of the PPP/C.
With all the underhand dealings at CHPA, ordinary Guyanese are the ones who continues to suffer. Just take a visit on any working day, you will be amazed to witness hundreds of persons sitting for long hours to be attended to. Many will tell you how long they applied and are waiting between one-three decades to receive a call from the Authority, inviting them for their allocations, while they are those who applied, never got a call, but has gone to the great beyond, without having the opportunity in bequeathing generational legacy to their loved ones.
On the other hand, the exorbitant prices set for ordinary Guyanese to purchase a regular house lot is another challenge for our people, Last year (2024); I tabled a motion calling on the National Assembly to convene a Special Select Committee to examine and review the costs for house lots. Rather than debating the merit contained in the motion, the careless and unscrupulous PPPc VOTED AGAINST that motion.
Additionally, several questions were tabled by me to Minister Colin Croal on the allocations of lands parallel to the Mandela-Eccles access road, and Heroes Highway. These questions never made the ‘Order Paper,’ but were disallowed by the PPPC gatekeeper for a Speaker, Mr. Manzoor Nadir, citing my questions contravened section 20 of the Standing Order, under ‘contents of question.’
Editor, on November 25, 2023, through my Letters to the Editor, I made a public call for a ‘Forensic Audit to be conducted on the operations of CHPA,’ since I have received several complaints of CORRUPT PRACTICES, allegedly involving g high officials, Ministers, and now embattled CEO, who has resigned. In addition to my call, I have seen receipts not bearing CHPA, but name of private businesses, where Guyanese were forced to pay millions for a piece of land, or to have their applications expedited. This again, saw the involvement of senior officials at CHPA.
Another reason for my call on Forensic Audit of CHPA, I have been reliably informed that some staffers at CHPA allegedly have multiple of house lots and newly constructed houses across housing schemes, not necessarily in their names, but that of family members. Editor, how can this be fair, when the poor and vulnerable are suffering, while those in Authority continue to rape this nation of its God given resources? That is why the Authority is face with huge backlogs in applications, still to be processed.
Therefore Editor, I conclude by joining with all right thinking and decent Guyanese, calling on Minister Susan Rodrigues to tender her resignation, as per allegations levelled against her. If she is innocent of the allegations, then do the honourable thing to clear your name. Also, Mr. Ifraan Ali should take the necessary action and avoid being complicit, as Guyanese witnessed your inactions against the revelations of CORRUPTION involving Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo and his friend, SU as Vice News exposed his under dealings and all others. Finally, I reiterate my call, for a forensic audit to be done on the operations of CHPA from August 2020 to February 7, 2025. Mr, Ifraan Ali, prove to Guyanese that you are in control of your government, ACT NOW, OR YOU SHOULD RESIGN!!!!!!
Yours truly,
Annette Ferguson, MP
