An opposition lawmaker says that while the New Democratic Party (NDP) administration distributed lands to Vincentians, the Labour Party government has vested the nation’s lands in a state company, making less them available to citizens.
Member of Parliament for Central Kingstown, St. Clair Leacock, told an NDP press conference in Kingstown last week that as a consequence of the ULP’s policies, Vincentians, especially those in the Grenadines, are becoming increasing like second-class citizens in their homeland.
Leacock’s comments on Tuesday came as he opposed the government’s decision to sell 31 acres of lands at Mt Wynne-Peters Hope to “Canadian investors” for EC$7 million.
Leacock said the NDP established itself on land reform programmes, giving land to the landless. This resulted in Vincentians transforming themselves into middle-class people, and fuelled the professional class among their children.
“The ULP has created National Properties to take back the land, dispose of the land, change the ownership patterns of the country to make sure that foreign interest is better represented in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on every square inch of land that is available,” Leacock said.
He said that National Properties, the state-owned firm in which most state-owned lands and other assets, such as some buildings are vested, has not presented an audited financial statement in its history.
“It’s the best secret kept,” Leacock said.
He said one would assume that a company that has been vested with “the state silver” would have a healthy balance sheet.
“National Properties today represents a debt-carrying vehicle if you look at the national budget. It costs the taxpayers for the existence of National Properties. We don’t benefit from it. It is part of a political, financial ponzi scheme. We do not know which lands represent assets and we don’t know which sets of lands represent inventory… It’s just get rid of, get rid of the lands. Money, money, money,” Leacock said.
“That’s how National Properties went to NIS (the National Insurance Services), got a loan, NIS send them down to [the then] National Commercial Bank to receive the cash. Today, there is no National Commercial Bank because it went the way of undermanaged entities. We need to follow those paper trails.”
Leacock said some of the best lands in Bequia are being sold at high and prohibitive prices to fuel the construction of the five-years-overdue EC$729 million Argyle International Airport.
“And Bequia people would, for a long time, not be able to own a part of what is Bequia,” Leacock said of the northern Grenadines island, where investors last month began and promising “private-island style privacy” at a development slated to commence this month.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves is expected to officiate at the groundbreaking of an “exclusive collection of new beachfront homes” at Firefly Villas on Bequia.
The development by Bequia Development Ltd., headed up by Johan Liljefors, will include villas with a US$630,000 price tag, designed by Swedish architect Olle Rex.
Construction of residences will then begin in early October 2016, 7th Heaven Properties, the leading sales agency for the development, said in a press release.
Leacock said: “We see the same thing manifesting itself in Canouan, where people have to turn ‘guana and lizard to get down on the beachfront in their own homeland and ships can’t anchor offshore. And they are forced, more and more, to become second-class citizens in their own homeland. The experience is there,” Leacock said.
He said Vincentians on St. Vincent Island must open their eyes to determine when such a situation will arise.
“You think any foreigner who is coming to our land and has an interest in Mt Wynne-Peter’s Hope doesn’t see the sea as an exclusive. They may say and do all that is necessary to acquire the lands today and wait until tomorrow, to remind us, as they have done in Canouan, ‘get off of my island’.
“On the leeward coast of St. Vincent, it would be ‘get off of my piece of real estate’. Is that what the people of Layou want? Is that what they want in Barrouallie?”
He said Ben Exeter, the NDP’s candidate for Central Leeward, where Mt Wynne-Peters Hope is located, has made the point that there is little value added that would accrue to the people of Layou and Barrouallie for the sale of the lands in Mt. Wynne-Peters Hope.
Leacock said residents of the district do not have to go too far to determine how many farmers are better off because of the existence of Buccament Bay Resort, which was constructed on farmlands and has been experiencing financial problems.
“Ask the people who used to catch tri-tri as a way of life in Buccama whether culturally they advanced as a people,” Leacock said, using the colloquial name for the areas where the resort is located.
Mr Leacock,
Thanks for your concern. I often wonder why the concerns of the citizens of Canouan are been ignored. We fought the NDP and were promised gold by the ULP. Look at what is been placed on us.
We fought then and we will do it again.
WE WILL STOP IT
WE WILL REVERSE IT
AND WE WE FORCED THEM TO PAY FOR FOR IT
Soon or later foreigners will own all beachfront properties and Vincentians would not be able to get a sea bath. The Mt. Wynne and Peters Hope development will include both Big Bay and Little Bay. Right now the Government refuses to allow picnicker to use Big Bay, unless one gets permission from somebody in Kingstown. I saw folks from the Windward side of the island coming down to Little Bay to get a sea bath. This free movement will soon end because of the Mt. Wynne and Peters Hope development. Little Bay is closer to Peters Hope and will be part of the resort. Thats why they are saying Mt. Wynne- Peters Hope.
Incidentally, the government already bought out Big Bay, so that entire stretch of land may be included in the deal. Hence Little Bay will soon be off limits to Vincentians. Ralph is accustomed to bath in the river, so this will have no effect on his life as the folks who love to swim in the sea. So where would Vincentians travel to get to the beach and have a sea bath Jackson Bay. Thats the only worthwhile beach that is not very badly polluted. It is reported Indian Bay and other beaches in that location are badly polluted with shit from the hotels and houses in the area.
Even Layou has problems since the stone quarry people damaged the beach and continue to spew garbage down the river into the sea from the quarry in the mountain. I noticed recently that its better to bath at Corner Bay when it rains, instead of Jackson Bay, due to the mud that comes down the river. So where will this leave Vincentians whod like to take their kids to the beach for a sea bath and to build sand castle?
Your concerns about Mt. Wynne/Peter’s Hope are premised on tourism development that will never happen. Why are you so quick to believe ULP political bullshit?
As for Rutland Vale Bay and beach at Layou, I wouldn’t even take my dog there to bathe, especially Corner Bay where local residents have always dumped their too-too to an extent where many residents refuse to buy fish caught close to shore. Jackson’s Bay on the north side is filthy and badly sand mined as you note. Five steps into the sea and you are up to your shoulders!