Member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) James Bond – was taken into Police custody today as the investigations into the alleged land giveaways under the former Government continues.
The investigation into the giveaway was launched by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) after it ascended to office on August 2, 2020.
But the party, even while it was in the Opposition, lamented that lands were being given away by the Coalition government illegally.
Its contention is premised on the fact that the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) government did not have the legal authority to allocate lands since the regime was reduced to a “caretaker” administration after its fell to a no-confidence motion in December 2018.
But this did not hinder the APNU+AFC from awarding former sugar estate lands to several companies and individuals. The PPP/C vowed that if it got into office, it would recover what it described as “illegally granted” lands.
Following August 2, at least two beneficiaries have since relinquished their ownership of lands, with one being a real estate developer.
Bond’s name has since been embroiled in a controversy surrounding the “flipping” of lands he acquired.
Last month, Bond was named as the recipient of US$1 million in payments for 20.8 acres of flipped State lands at Peters Hall.
