Central govt in “hostile takeover” of former city constab training complex – deputy mayor

Last Updated on Saturday, 28 March 2026, 21:17 by Writer

The central government has taken control of the unoccupied and virtually dilapidated building on Water Street, Georgetown, that once housed the City Constabulary Training Complex, but Deputy Mayor Denise Miller said at the scene that the move amounted to a “hostile takeover” by the country’s People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) administration.

“This is a hostile takeover of this city (Georgetown)…We are duly elected by people and are carrying out our mandate,” she told reporters outside the property.”

The building is now being guarded by R.K. Security Service.

Ms Miller warned that eventually the central government would take steps to acquire properties for which rates and taxes are owed to the city council.

However, local government minister Priya Manickchand said that as part of plans to transform Georgetown into a clean city with green, recreational spaces and other facilities, the Guyana government “in doing some research…found many places that are verified to be owned by the State of Guyana.”

Specifically referring to the former City Constabulary Training Complex at Lot 15 Water Street, she said the property “is owned by the colonies of Demerara and Essequibo; in other words, it’s State land” and was unused and unoccupied for a “large number of years.”

A sign erected on the fence reads “No trespassing. Site earmarked for immediate development by government of Guyana”.

Ms Manickchand said “the government is going to use that space for the benefit of the good of the residents and users of Georgetown.”

The Deputy Mayor, whose People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) holds a 19-seat majority on the 30-seat City Council, was among Mayor Alfred Mentore and several other councillors who gathered outside the premises and vociferously rejected the takeover of the property which extends to the Demerara River waterfront.

Mr Mentore informed a senior police officer that a sign posted on the property’s fence had “nothing to do with we” and that it should be removed.

“This is City Council property,” he said.

Calling the government’s action “bullyism”, the mayor vowed that efforts would be made to obtain a High Court injunction restraining central government and the police from taking possession or control of the building.

City Councillor Clayton Hinds asked police on the scene to give him a reason that the sign should not be removed from what he said was the City Council’s property but the senior police officer declined to reply.

City Councillor Lelon Saul said the government’s actions, including taking over of the responsibility of several city streets and the old City Constabulary training school, was a mark of poor governance. “It is a threat to democracy. There ought to be consultation,” he said.

Mr Saul said the central government had expressed an interest in the old training school but no agreement had been reached for the Irfaan Ali-led administration to wrest control of that property.