Lack of VROMI Policy Victimizes Many in Land Distribution Part 4 ~Where is the information?~
Information seems to be missing in the Ministry of VROMI about the Vineyard Heights long-lease land issue and it’s not clear whether it was misplaced, taken, or discarded.
When news broke regarding the issuance of land at the Over the Bank development (Vineyard Heights), it appeared to many to have been flawed from the start. Persons received draft decrees from former Minister of VROMI Angel Meyers for government land while the land was still at the center of a court dispute. Their decrees were not finalized and the present Minister Egbert Doran published new plans for the area this past June.
During the urgent public meeting held in Parliament on September 23, Members of Parliament questioned Doran about the saga and shared updates on what took place. However, Doran mentioned that the “blue maps” in the department of Domain Affairs are not there. The blue maps contain files regarding the development as far back as 2016.
Regarding the blue map, Party for Progress (PFP) Member of Parliament (MP) Raeyhon Peterson - a former VROMI department head - stated that before he left in 2019 the blue maps were there.
Independent MP Christopher Emmanuel - a former Minister of VROMI - stated he’s aware of the information regarding the case and gave examples. “I can give you the lot number, I can give you the size of the land, I could give you those who have a meetbrief and who don’t have a meetbrief ... I can tell you that only six (6) of them is over 1,000 square meters. I can tell you even one (1) alone requested commercial in that same area,” he said during the urgent meeting.
Emmanuel added, “It’s kind of troubling to me that the Minister or the Ministry would ask those who receive an engagement from government for this information - that the ministry themselves don’t have it.” He also told the Minister to ask Kurt Ruan (acting Secretary-General of VROMI) for the information. Emmanuel stated Ruan brought the information to him while he was a Minister. He added that the cost to develop the infrastructure at the time was NAF 8 million.
In an interview with former VROMI Minister Chris Wever, he stated the request from the 50 plus persons were there, and that during his nine (9) month tenure he didn’t get to delve into it. He said the ministry was aware and persons visited the office to inquire about it. Wever mentioned that during former VROMI Minister Miklos Giterson's stint, renderings for the first project were also there. Wever stated his first focus was developing the infrastructure before proceeding. He doesn’t recall seeing the blue maps but stated, “I do know there were files there… I know for sure Domain [Affairs] was aware of the persons.”
Giterson declined a request for an interview.
In response to Emmanuel’s statement regarding VROMI having all the information, Doran showed a handwritten list and a typed list of names. He added, “some of them cross-reference with each other but therefore I’m just trying to get the public to understand the confusion behind this entire issuing process of 2016.” Doran questioned the validity of some of the draft decrees approved in 2016 due to one of them being written on and containing a draft watermark. He mentioned having 14 in total during the parliament meeting.
“Prior to that, the only documentation we have was one (1) or two (2) complaints that came from separate individuals,” said Doran, who extended an “olive branch” to MPs by stating, “give advice, give tips cause we need it.” He referenced the department being understaffed and he’s trying to correct the wrongs done in the past.
On September 22, Doran released a press statement inviting persons in possession of draft decrees or letters of intent to send copies of their paperwork to the government. VROMI is conducting an internal investigation between the years 2014 - 2018.
The Prosecutor Office also published a press release on September 28, which invited persons with complaints or concerns “surrounding the distribution of land” in the proposed Vineyard Heights project to e-mail the office and submit their documents.
One thing is certain if Minister Doran’s statements about missing documentation are accurate; VROMI’s administration is tangled.
According to MP Peterson, he reinforced the process of having persons record their requests at the Civil Registry so that information can be booked with a DIV number. Prior to that, persons could request directly to the Minister, and not every request was booked. Coupled with years of instability, such kinks in the administrative process remain unattended. Doran has not stated how it will be addressed.
