Red House case adjourned to March 24

The matter in which the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Inc. (CJRCI) is contesting the revocation of the lease it holds to the Red House, has been adjourned to March 24 when the court will rule on its jurisdiction to hear the case.

When the case was called before former acting Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards at the High Court yesterday, Attorney General (AG) Basil Williams SC who is contending that the High Court has no jurisdiction to hear the case, laid over further submissions.

The adjourned date was then given, when hearings will continue.

Former AG, Anil Nandlall, who is representing the CJRCI, has however argued that the court does have jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter.

These proceedings stem from President David Granger’s announcement that the lease held by the Research Centre to the heritage building would be revoked.

Former President Donald Ramotar had previously said that while he was president, he authorized and sanctioned the issuance of the lease of Red House to the CJRCI.

On December 30, 2016, CJRCI secured an order from the court against the government’s revocation of its lease. The consent order operated to freeze the government’s instruction that the High Street premises be vacated by December 31.

It sought to restrain the Attorney General and every other officer of the state “from evicting or ejecting or in any way, interfering with the peaceful and quiet occupation and possession of this building by the Cheddi Jagan Research Institute.”