– slams AFC’s leader over “haul your ass” commentThe Ministry of Housing yesterday came out in defence of its programs on the East Bank of Demerara, insisting that the sale of large plots to private developers were all conducted in an “above board’ way and was in no way discriminatory to ordinary applicants.According to Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali, lands in the front part of the area between Eccles and Providence which were sold to developers for between $4MS-$6M per acre, cannot be more than the value of the others locatedHousing Minister,Irfaan Alifurther behind.There have been criticisms that the lands sold to the developers were done in a less than transparent manner, with normal Guyanese being pushed further behind. The private developers have been building in some cases, gated communities,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, with each plot being sold for as much as $15M. Turn-key homes are also being built.A map of the Eccles to Providence area indicated that the front lands were allocated to mainly the private developers. Leader of the Alliance For Change, Khemraj Ramjattan, in an article published on Wednesday, December 25th, signaled his intentions to question the process.However, Minister Ali, during his end of year press conference to speak about housing developments over the past year, made it clear that lands further behind Providence are just as important as the ones more to the front. This is especially so as a planned road to link Ogle, on the East Coast to the East Bank, will push value of homes up.The Government officials also made it clear that Expressions Of Interest (EOI) were advertised starting in 2010 up until last month, in the Guyana Chronicle.Yesterday, the Ministry said its housing programs are not done in any haphazard manner but rather is based on studies, and in keeping with similar models in India,China Jerseys, South Korea and Australia,Cheap Jerseys, among other places.Ali also expressed disgust with Ramjattan whom he said was invited to the press conference yesterday but was disrespectful to his secretary allegedly saying that the Minister should “haul his ass”. A further email invitation saw the AFC leader responding in the same rude manner. Calling the AFC leader unethical,Cheap Stitched Jerseys, Ali demanded a public apology to his secretary.Challenging critics, the Minister also said that his portfolio has always been transparent, with its “One Stop Shop’ exercises to allocate house lots and turn-key homes as clear evidence.Regarding the East Bank Demerara development, the official said it was once a swamp area.In addition to the $4M-$6M being charged for one acre, the private developers are also saddled with infrastructural costs that could end up pushing final costs to $10M-$15M per acre.Responding to Ramjattan’s questions as to the criteria used to select the developers, Ali pointed out that the requirements were all contained in the advertisements for the EOI.AFC’s Leader,Khemraj RamjattanHad the private developers been given options,NFL Jerseys China, they would have probably applied for the lands that are further behind, he said.Ali also debunked a report in the same Christmas day article which said one businessman close to the Government was able to purchase 400 acres of land in the Coverden area, a village located further up the East Bank of Demerara.Questions over a piece of land granted to Presidential Advisor,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, Odinga Lumumba, in Providence, was also cleared up by Ali who said it was in exchange for another plot that Government had acquired from that official.