Gov’t still hoping that good sense prevails in Red House land squabble

Last Updated on Thursday, 21 April 2016, 17:56 by

Attorney General Basil Williams

The Government says that it has not given up hope that the Board of Director of Red House will soon come to it’s senses and allow all nine of Guyana’s past Presidents to go on display at the facility.

Upon assuming office close to a year ago, the APNU+AFC had revealed that under the Former PPP/C administration, a prime piece of land on High Street was leased to members of the Party.

The property was leased to the Cheddi Jagan Research Center for 99 years at a rate of $12,000 per year; which is $1,000 per month.

Government’s contention is that the building should not only be used as a research centre for Former President Cheddi Jagan, but for all those who would have occupied the Presidency in the annals of Guyana’s history.

Attorney General Basil Williams on Thursday told reporters that there is still hope. He said that a team from Government met with the Board and discussed several possibilities.

The Company had proposed that a rent be fixed for the property but the Government is not inclined to facilitate such a prospect.

“They wanted to rent it so as to only house the former President and a library,” said the Attorney General.

He described such a move as selfish and unmindful for the rest of Guyana’s past Heads of State.

“We feel that it’s not really to have one past president to be using – to be alone situated on that red house which is on prime land it reeks of selfishness,” said Williams adding that he hopes the “PPP would show some maturity in this matter and that good sense prevails.”