By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan has disregarded the Party’s Chairman Nigel Hughes’ involvement in a bitter land dispute with the owner of Mae’s Secondary School, Mayfield French as a personal matter and declined when approached by reporters to make any detailed comment in relation to the matter.
The AFC Leader on Monday, February 10 said he has not even had any discussion with Hughes in relation to the allegations since it surfaced in the media just about a week ago.
Ramjattan, who attempted to remain mute on the subject did state that the matter was before the Court and as such was Sub Judice; preventing him from commenting on the matter.
He told iNews that the allegations which involved the Chairman was a personal one and a response to the allegations, whether in the Courts or publicly will be made at the appropriate time.
When asked if he was concerned of the implications it will have on the image of the Party, the Leader repeated that the matter was a personal one and said he was confident that it will have no impact on his party’s image.
“Its personal and I’m sure he has an answer that will be provided when the time is right,” Ramjattan said.
Court documents obtained by iNews revealed that French sued Hughes on January 17, 2014 in relation to the property located at Lot 29 Subryanville, Kitty, Georgetown, upon which part of the school has been built.
In the court papers, French is contending that since February 24, 2006, she purchased the said property from Nigel Hughes for the sum of $20M.
She paid $8M as a deposit and went in possession; transport was supposed to be passed within 8 months and a mortgage on the said property was supposed to be paid off before the passing of the said transport. However, Hughes never passed transport to her.
Meanwhile, the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has since called for the resignation of Hughes.
In a statement issued to the press on Sunday, February 9, the PPP said, “These allegations must not be taken lightly, and are to say the least, troubling and worrying to the public at large. The PPP is also appalled by the deafening silence of the Executive of the Alliance for Change on the continuous reports that its Chairman is involved in various forms of fraudulent activities, misconduct and improprieties.”
According to the PPP, “It is shameful, but telling that the AFC which preaches about good governance and accountability is failing miserably to reign in Hughes despite the scandals in which he is finding himself. The fact that these allegations continue to be made is cause for concern about the integrity of the Attorney at Law and his ethical standards, not only in the political realm, but when doing business.”
