APNU/AFC were establishing a ‘Riggersville’ -Min Singh

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh says there was a massive land grab by the Coalition during their last days in office. The Minister said it was one of the reasons the Opposition wanted to hold on to power during the five-month period after the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

Dr. Singh was at the time wrapping up the five-day 2021 Budget debates in the National Assembly. The Minister said that soon the facts of the matter will be disclosed for everyone to witness.

“They were busy establishing a ‘Riggersville’ populated by themselves and their families and they think people do not know. They were busy creating a Riggersville.”

The Finance Minister said the Coalition was doing that while at the same time speaking out against the establishment of ‘Pradoville’.

“This pattern of deception that was set out over the last five years actually manifested itself again over the last five days … the litany of untruths and misrepresentation in full view of the world at large,” Dr. Singh said.

In October, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Hon. Mohabir Anil Nandlall SC had said the Coalition gave away prime commercial and agricultural state lands.  This was done at the Wales Estate, West Bank Demerara, Ogle, East Coast Demerara and Peter’s Hall on the East Bank Demerara.

“These are lands that are valued millions of US dollars and have been gifted away by leases and or by title for peppercorn consideration, meaning nothing compared to what they are actually valued,” the AG had said.

The Attorney General, in his presentation to the National Assembly today said where possible, the Government would take the necessary steps to retore the lands to the people of the country.