Georgetown: Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Ail Nandlall revealed on Saturday that the former APNU/AFC Government had created hundreds of positions for persons who were closely linked to the party and was paying them millions of taxpayers’ dollars in salaries and other perks, although some of these persons did not spend much of their time in Guyana.
The Attorney General said one such position was the “Director of Parks” and while he did not reveal the name of the individual, Nandlall revealed that the Director spent most of his time out of Guyana.
However, investigation revealed that the Director of Parks is Larry London who was also the coordinator of the D’Urban Park project which was shrouded in secrecy and financial impropriety.
Under the former government, London served in several capacities including Chairman of the Board of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), and as a board member of Atlantic Hotel Inc. (AHI), otherwise known as Marriott Hotel. All of which he was paid hefty salaries.
The Auditor General’s (AG) 2018 report stated in its summary of findings that up to December 31st, 2017, the total cost amounted to $1.150 billion were spent on the project.
Over $1 billion had been spent on the project – a large parade ground with wooden stands – and despite this, the National Assembly had been asked to approve millions in extra-budgetary spending to meet additional costs.
“…this is a guy when I find out is hardly ever in Guyana, but he is the Director of Public Parks. What is that?” Nandlall said during an interview.
Nandlall said that he had never heard of such a position, and it was evident that the APNU+AFC government was creating positions and handing them to persons linked to the party.
Nandlall revealed that the Director of Parks was receiving a net salary of $500,000 per month, his electricity, internet and telephone bills paid by the State, guards at his home, a driver and a car, duty-free allowance for the highest grade of vehicles, and a gratuity of 22.5 per cent every six months.
The AG reiterated that the beneficiary was receiving all of these perks although he was out of Guyana most of the time.
London, who is closely linked to the People’s National Congress (PNC) – the largest party in the APNU+AFC coalition – was a part-owner of Homestretch Development Inc (HDI) –the company which lead the initial development of the controversial D’Urban Park project.
HDI claimed to have received millions in donations to execute the project but failed to disclose those amounts, and later found itself in the spotlight after failing to pay contractors.
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