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The Pradoville 2 housing scheme, located at Sparendaam on the East Coast of Demerara, has become one of Guyana’s most controversial property scandals. In 2017, the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) launched an investigation into the allocation of prime seaside land sold at prices far below market value to then-President Bharrat Jagdeo and several high-ranking People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) officials. According to SARA’s findings, the undervaluation cost the state an estimated GYD 250 million in lost revenue, as the land was transferred without transparent tendering or fair market pricing (Stabroek News, 2019).
The properties in question, known collectively as “Pradoville 2,” were parceled out to former Cabinet members and politically connected individuals. These included former ministers Clement Rohee, Priya Manickchand, Shaik Baksh, and Jennifer Westford, along with ex-Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon and other senior officials. The lots were sold for as little as GYD 1.5 to 9.3 million, despite private valuations later estimating market prices in the tens of millions per plot (Stabroek News, 2019).
In February 2019, SARA filed eight civil lawsuits in the High Court, seeking to recover the lands or equivalent compensation from the beneficiaries. The suits argue that the allocations violated the State Lands Act, since the lands were distributed in a process that lacked public advertisement, competitive bidding, or proper Cabinet approval. SARA contends that the secrecy surrounding the sales suggests deliberate intent to enrich insiders at the expense of the state (Stabroek News, 2019).
Court documents show Jagdeo himself received two plots totaling over 1.2 acres, for which he paid GYD 9.3 million—a fraction of the combined estimated value exceeding GYD 246 million. SARA’s director, Clive Thomas, emphasized that the agency exhausted settlement options before resorting to litigation, but most recipients refused voluntary restitution, making court action necessary (Stabroek News, 2019).
Meanwhile, separate but related criminal charges were filed against the-Housing Minister Irfaan Ali in 2019 for alleged conspiracy to defraud in the Pradoville 2 transactions; however, those charges were discontinued in 2020 after Ali became president, sparking debate over the impartiality of prosecutorial decisions (Stabroek News, 2019).
The Pradoville 2 controversy remains one of Guyana’s most significant examples of alleged state asset mismanagement, illustrating the need for transparent land allocation processes to prevent future abuse of public resources (Stabroek News, 2019).
The Guyana Project is an independent media platform delivering fact-checked, ground-level reporting on politics, economy, and public life in Guyana. With a focus on transparency and development, we bring unfiltered news and thoughtful analysis to help shape a more informed, forward-looking nation.
Pradoville 2 Land Deal: SARA Pursues Recovery of Undervalued State Lands
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