Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves says he is still awaiting the outcome of an investigation by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) after he complained to them about being “accosted” by two of their journalists in Barbados in February.
“I haven’t gotten any feedback,” Gonsalves said last week when asked for an update.
He added that he had made public all his communication with BBC but has since received two letter “of a very general nature” from Lord Chris Patten, chair of the BBC Trust, with whom he filed his complaint.
“In fact, they were delayed in relation to things I had sent earlier,” Gonsalves said of the letters from Patten.
Asked if he was still seeking redress, Gonsalves said:
“As far as I know, I have not been told yet as to the results of their inquiry — what they have done. And I am awaiting to hear because that is what the chairman of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten, had said to me,” Gonsalves further said.
Gonsalves has said that BBC journalists Matthew Hill and Paul Kenyon accosted him on a landed plane in Barbados in February.
The journalists had come to St. Vincent as part of a programme about Dave Ames, chair of the company that owns Buccament Bay Resort and failed, during their time here, to secure an interview with Gonsalves.
They BBC journalists told I-Witness News that they asked Gonsalves on the aircraft about certain allegations.
The men were working on an episode of the BBC’s investigative programme, “Panorama”, which has been shelved amidst allegations that Matthew Chapman, the producer of the show, attempted to bribe a Harlequin employee.
Chapman was suspended and later resigned from the BBC amidst the allegations.
Its coming, board of trade enquiries in the UK, fraud squad and several other agencies have been working hard recently and unearthing stuff in Thailand.
They are working their way around to Saint Vincent, its coming, be patient.
Dave Ames has made significant investment in Thailand, some together with Richard Haughton, whose activities are also under investigation by the Crime Suppression Division.
Here is a list of Harlequin and Harlequin/Haughton related properties in Thailand.
31/01/2549
0205549003404
Active
HARLEQUIN PROPERTY (THAILAND) COMPANY LIMITED
329/2 MU 12 NONG PUE BANG LAMUNG CHONBURI
01/03/2549
0205549006896
Active
HARLEQUIN PROPERTY (ASIA) CO.,LTD.
64/38 MU 4 NONG PUE BANG LAMUNG CHONBURI
28/06/2549
0205549018312
Active
HARLEQUIN PROPERTY (MAINTENANCE) CO.,LTD.
64/39 MU 4 NONG PUE BANG LAMUNG CHONBURI
28/07/2549
0205549020813
Active
HARLEQUIN PROPERTY (RENTAL) CO.,LTD.
143/84-85 MU 12 NONG PUE BANG LAMUNG CHONBURI
31/07/2549
0205549020953
Active
HARLEQUIN PROPERTY (FURNITURE) CO.,LTD.
143/84-85 MU 12 NONG PUE BANG LAMUNG CHONBURI
What is being done about the false immigration declarations made by Matthew Hill and Paul Kenyon when they illegally entered St Vincent?
Did they both lie on their Immigration Cards?
Is that a crime?
REST, assured my false named friend, your little insertion of smoke screen is being ignored.
International journalists travel as visitors world wide, if they logged that they were investigating this or any other PM, do you think they would let them into the majority of countries with crap regimes, which perhaps have got things to hide.
They were not taking the job of any Vincentian and were supplying a noble service to the world.
I regard these men as very brave, they do not surround themselves with bodyguards, they are not cowards, probably were never incessantly bullied at their grammar school, so know no fear. These are real men, men of courage and determination.
Lets just await the final outcome.
THE ANSWER IS, YES HE WAS, ITS NO WONDER HE WANTS TO PUNISH THE WHOLE OF SVG.
Obiman of this treasured island, Oh fiscally fossilised idiot, Oh educated idiot, creator of hate, conveyor of spite and malice, generator of intentionally false statements, descendent of the great slaving empire, descendent of the great slave trading captain, fat unclean mean sex machine.
I am assured absolutly none of these phrases will be used in the program when it is eventually shown.
So we can all breath easier, or stress our dissapointment, or whatever.