Dear Editor,

It is no surprise that James Bond has publicly endorsed the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) and President Ali. His endorsement of the PPP and President Ali is self-serving, it is about protecting and furthering his (Mr. Bond’s interests).

As far as I am aware, Mr. Bond is a member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). His decision, and more so the manner in which it was made, reminded me of the reservations that former President Granger had about him. These reservations, as we now see, were well-founded. Like a few others within the PNCR, it appears Mr. Bond’s loyalties are up for grabs but only because of other situations they have found themselves in.

Readers may not be fully aware or might have forgotten that Mr. Bond is currently a defendant in several charges brought by the State. These charges stem from his alleged involvement in the controversial state land transactions at Plantation Peter’s Hall on the East Bank of Demerara. Alongside other defendants, Mr. Bond made his first court appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in 2021.

The charges are serious. They include allegations of conspiring with others to defraud the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and its sole shareholder, the Government of Guyana, by granting leases of prime land without proper Board and Cabinet approval. The properties involved include Plots A17, A18, A19, A7, A8, A20, A1, A2, A3, and A4, all at Plantation Peters Hall. These leases were allegedly executed for purposes outside NICIL’s mandate.

Former President Granger, Joseph Harmon, and other Coalition leaders evidently had their reservations about Mr. Bond—reservations that are proving justified. During the Coalition’s tenure, Mr. Bond did not shy away from leveraging his relationships with the party and its leadership to secure his interests. Now he wants to use the PPP to get out of the tangled web he has weaved.

For a period following the PPP’s return to power, Mr. Bond was seen aligning himself with Azruddin Mohammed. Now, Mr. Bond appears to be seeking favour with President Ali, likely in a bid to mitigate his legal troubles. However, the PPP must exercise caution. Current and former members of the PNC/R defecting to the PPP should be carefully scrutinized, as their motivations may be self-serving rather than genuine.

Sincerely, M. Anthony-Sealy