What was once touted as a shining example of a modern gated community on the East Bank of Demerara has unravelled into a web of controversy, frustration and alleged fraud.
Raydan Housing Inc., a private company formed in 2015 to develop a 17-acre residential scheme at Plantation Little Diamond, is now facing growing outrage from residents and landowners, many of them professionals, business owners, and civil servants who say they have been left in limbo after nearly a decade of broken promises.
Initially marketed as a premium, 133-lot gated community, the Raydan Housing scheme currently hosts no more than a dozen completed properties. Basic infrastructure, including water access, paved roads, electricity, lighting, and security, remains either incomplete or entirely absent. The grand entrance and other amenities promised in the project’s glossy pitch materials never materialised.
The grand entrance and other amenities promised in the project’s glossy pitch materials never materialised.
Residents, some of whom purchased lots as early as 2016, report having to endure unsafe living conditions. Cows frequently roam and vandalise properties, theft is a recurring concern and streetlights are either missing or dysfunctional. Homeowners have taken to maintaining sections of the development on their own, with one resident even building parts of the road and laying water connections at his own expense.
At the centre of the growing scandal are Raydan Housing Inc.’s company secretary Shawn Doris and businessman Mohamed of SMS Realty. Residents allege that the pair engaged in unauthorised land sales and personal financial arrangements without the knowledge or consent of key shareholders.
Mohamed already faced charges back in 2023 for fraud and house lot scam.
These alleged deals linked to Raydan reportedly involved the collection of between $38 to $40 million, supposedly earmarked for the construction of condominiums and other development work, but where that money went remains unclear.
Even more troubling are allegations of forged signatures on official documents. One shareholder claimed that the development has been hijacked by internal power struggles, financial opacity, and a lack of cooperation among stakeholders.
Cows frequently roam and vandalise properties
Residents have taken their grievances to the highest levels, writing to President Dr. Irfaan Ali and bringing the matter to the attention of the Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal.
However, Croal told the News Room on Wednesday that there is little the government can do, as Raydan is a private development. He encouraged homeowners to pursue legal action—and they are.
A lawsuit reportedly exceeding $200 million is being prepared, and residents have lodged complaints with the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). While some sources suggest an investigation is underway, SOCU officials have stated there is currently no formal probe into Raydan Housing Inc. There is, however, believed to be an investigation into monies collected by Doris and Mohamed.
The shareholders themselves appear divided. Majority shareholder Danley Major, a businessman, has said he is on the ground “trying to make things right,” but points to a lack of transparency and cooperation from other shareholders.
Efforts to reach other shareholders, notably Wilfred Bransford, who owns the business premises in Eccles – Car Care – where Raydan’s office is located, proved futile.
Major has also appealed for government or regulatory intervention to ensure homeowners receive some form of justice and relief.
The list of affected parties reads like a who’s who of Guyana’s professional middle class: from United Nations employees and hospital staff to senior public servants and business owners.
Many have invested millions—lots have reportedly sold for as much as $11–12 million—only to find themselves burdened by undeveloped land, stalled construction plans, and dwindling hope.
Initially marketed as a premium, 133-lot gated community, the Raydan Housing scheme currently hosts no more than a dozen completed properties.
One buyer, who purchased three lots, claims he has received no assistance in starting construction, no access to utility services, and no communication from the company. Another alleges that despite paying in full, he still doesn’t have legal documentation confirming his purchase.
Residents say they are not backing down. Legal teams have been assembled, and a push for criminal investigations is underway. Calls for audits, transparency, and shareholder accountability are growing louder, with pressure mounting on both Raydan Housing Inc. and SMS Realty to answer for the millions collected and the years of mismanagement.
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